This summer saw a record number of road trips across Spain, with over 97.7 million long-distance journeys, according to the DGT’s Summer Operation report. Despite a 3% drop in fatal accidents, 241 people lost their lives on the roads—3 more than in the same period last year.
The data was presented by Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
Call for responsibility on Spanish roads
Grande-Marlaska stressed the need for drivers to take responsibility for road safety, reaffirming the government’s commitment to reducing fatal and serious accidents by 50% by 2030.
Increase in vulnerable road user fatalities
An 8% rise in deaths among vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists and pedestrians, was recorded this summer. In total, 112 vulnerable users lost their lives, accounting for 46% of all fatalities.
Pedestrian deaths on major roads halved
The report also highlighted a significant drop in pedestrian deaths on motorways and dual carriageways, with fatalities falling from 15 in 2023 to 7 this year.
Peak travel day and impact of Operation Crossing the Strait
Friday, August 11, saw the highest number of road movements, with 1.8 million trips. Operation Crossing the Strait contributed to the increase in traffic, with a 9.6% rise in vehicles crossing Spain. However, traffic from the French border to Portugal saw a decrease of 19.5%.
Most dangerous accident types
The data shows that most fatalities resulted from vehicles leaving the road (88 deaths), followed by head-on collisions (62 deaths), the highest figure since 2015. Distraction and excessive speed were key factors in these accidents.
Regional breakdown and long-term trends
Andalucia had the highest number of road deaths, followed by Castilla y León. Despite this summer’s higher traffic volumes, there has been a nationwide stabilisation of accidents.
Also read: DGT urges caution as traffic accidents surge in Andalucia