• Videos The Top 10 reckless driving this summer

  • Alert The Prosecutor's Office asks citizens to tell about criminal behavior behind the wheel

Never, since there are traffic statistics, there were so few deaths in traffic accidents during a summer as in 2021.

There were 191 deaths, three out of four on conventional roads.

There are 24 deaths less than in 2019 and 11 than in 2020, which until now had the lowest figure. This was revealed by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, during an appearance at the headquarters of the DGT.

The data refer to claims only on the road and in the 24 hours after.

The politician, who pointed out that "

the statistics are less bad than we expect, but we must not send a triumphalist message, ever.

Every day, three people have died in accidents on our roads. The objective must be to reduce that statistic to zero, something that is not an unattainable goal. "

The balance presented yesterday confirmed that the number of trips has been very similar to that registered in 2019, before the pandemic: there

were 90.8 million long-haul trips.

Also, that

the exit of the road, closely related to speeding, continues to be the major cause of fatal accidents, with 46% of the total.

Fears before the summer starts

The minister did not have them all with him at the end of June, when the special campaign for this summer was launched.

Then, Grande-Marlaska appeared "alarmed" by the signals that the accident rate had been giving and that, he said, "we must stop as soon as possible."

He was referring to the month of June, which ended with 116 victims.

The comparison with the 50 of the same period of 2020 could be admissible, since the State of Alarm set by the Government for the coronavirus had been extended until the end of that month.

What was completely out of the pattern was the increase of almost 50% compared to the 78 deaths in June 2019.

Until then, the evolution had been reasonably good, with important decreases in January and February and

logical increases in March, April and May, since a year earlier, there were hardly any essential services and transport vehicles on the roads

.

The big blur was put by Easter, with 36 deaths that were the worst record since 2016.

With the closing of July, the waters seem to have returned to their course:

the 99 registered fatalities (16 less than in 2020 and 18 less than in 2019) have been, in fact, the lowest figure registered in this month at least in that we have been for a century.

And maybe historical.

Less civil guards

Traffic has not saved anything in order to reduce accidents this summer.

Thus, it has raised up to three specific campaigns on speed, motorcycles and the consumption of alcohol and drugs at the wheel.

In addition, its control and surveillance artillery has been increased to have

780 fixed radars (92 of them stretch) and 545 mobile radars, 12 helicopters, 39 drones, 261 cameras and 15 camouflaged vans

to control the use of mobile phones and seat belts. security.

But it still suffers from a structural problem: agents are missing.

It was recognized in April by Ramón Rueda, the chief general of the Civil Guard Traffic Group.

“Compliance with the law is scary, but the presence of the agents who watch over it makes it more scary.

And there are less than it should, "he said.

Not only because there are now about 9,000 guards (the group had more than 10,000) but also because they do fewer hours of service.

Rueda has been replaced by General Criado at the head of the Group, after the former went into active reserve after 33 years of service.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

See links of interest

  • Last News

  • Holidays 2021

  • Home THE WORLD TODAY

  • Stage 18, live: Salas - Altu d'El Gamoniteiru

  • Sweden - Spain, live

  • Stage 19, live: Tapia - Monforte de Lemos