Lorraine Williamson
With summer 2025 poised to shatter traffic records, Spain’s Ministry of the Interior has unveiled its most extensive seasonal road safety operation yet. More than 100 million long-distance journeys are expected across July and August alone, prompting the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) to intensify its efforts to safeguard motorists.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska presented the national summer traffic campaign at roadside level, underlining the need for heightened vigilance—not just on major routes, but particularly on short-distance trips via conventional roads, where many fatal accidents occur. The objective is clear: manage the rising number of journeys without repeating last summer’s grim toll of 243 lives lost, averaging nearly four deaths per day.
Weekend traffic peaks and five special operations
Summer mobility patterns in Spain have shifted in recent years. Travel is now more fragmented and heavily concentrated at weekends. In response, the DGT has scheduled specific traffic operations for every weekend throughout the summer, with extra reinforcements during peak moments.
Five major operaciones especiales will structure the summer calendar:
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4–6 July: 1st Operation Exit
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24–27 July: Santiago Operation
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1–3 August: 1st August Operation
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14–17 August: 15 August Operation
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29–31 August: Operation Return
Each operation targets anticipated travel surges around national holidays and traditional holiday changeover dates, deploying thousands of personnel to manage flow and respond to incidents.
A pan-European traffic challenge
Beyond Spain’s domestic holidaymakers, a steady influx of international vehicles adds further complexity. Many are headed to or transiting through Spain on their way to Portugal or North Africa.
One of the most demanding logistics challenges is the Operación Paso del Estrecho (OPE), facilitating North African diaspora travel. This summer, traffic through the Strait is projected to grow by 5% compared to 2024’s 850,000 vehicles.
To manage this, over 27,000 people are involved in the coordination effort, with rest areas, staffed information points, and real-time data from 2,400 display panels and 2,000 traffic cameras. Additional controls are in place for the Operación Paso de Portugal, with over 200,000 vehicles expected to cross from Spain into Portugal via routes like the A-62 and A-66.
Risk hotspots: motorcyclists, distractions, and alcohol
The DGT’s main safety concerns this summer are linked to preventable behaviours and vulnerable road users. Motorcyclists top the list. Despite making up less than 3% of road traffic, they accounted for 25% of all road deaths last summer—76 fatalities, the highest in a decade. Most of these occurred on rural roads at weekends, often involving powerful bikes ridden by experienced licence holders.
Joining Grande-Marlaska at the launch was Juan Manuel Reyes, head of the National Motorcyclists Association, who urged bikers to exercise caution and prioritise arriving home safely.
The DGT also identified several key risk factors:
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Run-off-road accidents, responsible for 40% of fatal crashes
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Driver distraction, now the leading cause of road deaths
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Pedestrian fatalities, comprising 9% of summer road deaths
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Substance use, including alcohol and drugs
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High-risk age group: drivers aged 45–54 had the highest death rate last summer
Practical advice for safe summer travel
The message from Spain’s Interior Minister this summer is as clear as it is urgent: no holiday moment is worth a life. With road use surging, Grande-Marlaska urged travellers to plan their journeys with care, especially to avoid the typical bottlenecks around major cities and along coastal routes. He reminded drivers that even short trips—often taken for granted—carry high risks, particularly on secondary roads where familiarity can breed complacency.
He stressed that getting behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs is never just a personal gamble; it endangers everyone. The minister also condemned the growing use of WhatsApp groups to share the locations of police alcohol checks, describing them as both irresponsible and dangerous. Such messages, he warned, may help one person avoid a fine but could lead to another’s death.
With distraction now the leading cause of fatal accidents, the advice is as simple as it is sobering: both hands on the wheel, eyes fixed on the road, and a full mind on the task at hand. Arriving safely, Grande-Marlaska insisted, is worth far more than shaving five minutes off a journey.
Road angels: honouring the Guardia Civil
In a heartfelt radio message to the Guardia Civil’s traffic unit, Grande-Marlaska thanked officers for their tireless service—even when much of the country is on holiday. Their visible presence, rapid response to emergencies, and dedication to saving lives are, he said, the backbone of Spain’s road safety system.
Describing them as “angels of the road”, the minister highlighted their crucial role in keeping traffic flowing and ensuring that families reach their destinations—and return home—safely.
A summer of high stakes
As temperatures and traffic both rise, Spain’s summer road safety operation stands as a stark reminder: behind every statistic is a life. With record movement expected, the success of this campaign will hinge not just on the scale of enforcement, but on the choices drivers make—moment by moment, mile by mile.