Lorraine Williamson
Road deaths in Spain fell in February, but the latest DGT figures come with a sharp warning. A total of 59 people died in 58 fatal crashes on interurban roads during the month, nine fewer than in February 2025, even though long-distance traffic rose by 1.77% to 32.7 million journeys.
On the surface, that looks like progress. Yet the same DGT report highlights a more troubling trend among vulnerable road users. Pedestrian deaths rose to 14, up five on the same month last year, while vulnerable users overall accounted for 34 deaths, seven more than in February 2025.
Fewer deaths overall, but not a simple success story
The DGT described February 2026 as the second safest February on record, beaten only by 2021, which it noted was an abnormal year. That gives the headline figure some context. Still, the pattern underneath is more mixed than the overall drop suggests.
Deaths on motorways and dual carriageways fell sharply, with 13 fatalities, down from 24 a year earlier. But on other interurban roads, deaths actually rose from 44 to 46. In other words, Spain’s safer headline was helped by improvement on higher-capacity roads, while conventional roads remained the more dangerous setting.
Pedestrians are the figure that stands out
The most striking number in the report is not the overall total but the pedestrian toll. The DGT said 14 pedestrians were killed in February, and added that eight were walking on the carriageway, one was a worker, and 11 died in daylight conditions.
That matters because it shifts the story away from a narrow focus on drivers alone. The increase suggests that road danger in Spain is also hitting those outside vehicles, not just those inside them. For a month that otherwise looked comparatively positive, that is the figure most likely to concern road safety officials.
Motorcyclists and other vulnerable users remain exposed
The broader vulnerable-user category also moved in the wrong direction. DGT’s breakdown shows 18 motorcyclists, 14 pedestrians and 2 cyclists among those killed in February. By contrast, deaths in cars fell from 31 to 21.
That shift says something important about Spain’s road safety picture. Traditional car-occupant deaths may be easing, but more exposed users continue to face serious risk. It is also a reminder that lower monthly totals do not necessarily mean the roads are becoming safer in the same way for everyone.
Another warning came over the weekend
The final days of the reporting period underlined that point. From 3.00 pm on Friday, 27 February, to midnight on Sunday, 1 March, 10 people died in 8 fatal crashes on interurban roads. Of those, six were vulnerable road users: three motorcyclists, two pedestrians and one cyclist.
Most of those deaths happened on conventional roads. The DGT said seven of the weekend fatalities occurred on this type of road, compared with three on higher-capacity routes.
Safety devices still feature in the monthly toll
Another detail in the DGT release is also worth noting. It said seven of those killed in February were not using the required safety equipment at the time of the crash.
That does not explain the whole month, but it does reinforce a familiar message from road safety campaigns: some deaths remain linked to behaviour that is at least partly preventable. In a report dominated by vulnerable-user concerns, that detail may not be the lead, but it remains part of the picture.
Andalucia recorded one of the biggest improvements
Regionally, the DGT said Catalonia recorded the highest number of deaths in February, with nine, while Andalucia saw the biggest improvement, with eight fewer deaths than in February 2025. It also said there were no road deaths recorded in the Basque Country, La Rioja, Ceuta or Melilla during the month.
That regional variation is a reminder that the national total only tells part of the story. Some areas improved markedly, while others continued to post more worrying figures.
What the February figures really tell us
The latest data leaves Spain with a mixed message heading into spring. Yes, the country recorded fewer road deaths in February, and it did so despite increased mobility. But the rise in pedestrian deaths and the continued vulnerability of motorcyclists and cyclists mean the report is not a simple good-news story.
For drivers, pedestrians and policymakers alike, the DGT numbers point in the same direction: progress is possible, but the most exposed people on Spain’s roads are still paying the highest price.