Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s summer of 2025 closed with encouraging figures: 228 people died in traffic accidents in July and August, 15 fewer than the previous year. The drop, equivalent to 6%, came despite a record-breaking 100.5 million long-distance journeys – the highest number ever recorded.
The Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, presented the balance of the DGT’s Operación Verano this week, highlighting the paradox of fewer fatalities during unprecedented levels of mobility. Yet he reminded that “3.7 people still lost their lives on Spanish roads every day this summer – proof that vigilance can never be relaxed.”
Motorcyclist deaths stabilise after a decade of growth
One of the most notable trends is the stabilisation of motorcyclist deaths. After ten years of steady increases, fatalities among bikers held at 72 this summer – four fewer than in 2024. Vulnerable road users overall accounted for 44% of deaths: 20 pedestrians, nine cyclists, and 72 motorcyclists.
Pedestrian deaths remain troubling. One in ten of those who died was on foot, including nine on motorways where walking is banned except in emergencies. Visibility proved a major factor: seven of the nine pedestrians killed at night were not wearing reflective clothing.
Seatbelts and helmets still ignored
The DGT warned again about the tragic consequences of failing to use basic safety measures. Of the 107 people killed in cars or vans where information was available, 29 were not wearing seatbelts. Two motorcyclists and one cyclist also died without protective helmets.
The most common type of accident remains vehicles leaving the road, representing 43% of fatalities. Head-on collisions caused nearly a quarter.
Fires reshape traffic policing
Forest fires across Spain created extra challenges this summer, forcing Guardia Civil traffic officers to redirect efforts towards emergency management. More than 3,200 officers were deployed in Galicia, Castilla y León, and Extremadura, with 298 checkpoints, 184 road closures and 2,170 services carried out.
The DGT also emphasised the scale of its communication work: almost 37,000 calls were answered on its 011 hotline. Meanwhile, 19,000 variable message signs and hundreds of radio and TV bulletins informed drivers in real time.
Travel records broken
The surge in summer mobility was fuelled partly by the annual Operación Paso del Estrecho. 820,633 vehicles crossed Spain towards North Africa—nearly 8% more than last year. Cross-border traffic into Portugal also grew by 15%.
August was the busiest month, with 52 million long-distance trips – the highest on record. The busiest single day was Friday 1 August, with two million journeys logged.
Regional differences
Andalucía once again registered the highest number of deaths, with 47 people killed. Castilla y León followed with 32. By contrast, Valencia and Murcia recorded some of the sharpest falls, with 14 and 9 fewer deaths than in 2024.
A cautiously positive trend
From January to 1 September, Spain recorded 746 road deaths, 34 fewer than the same period last year – a reduction of 4%. While the long-term trend shows gradual improvement, Grande-Marlaska stressed the need for persistence: “Road safety requires constant effort. Every fatality is a tragedy we must continue to prevent.”
The DGT’s final data for the full year will confirm whether 2025 marks a turning point after years of fluctuating numbers, but this summer’s figures suggest progress towards safer Spanish roads.
Source: DGT