This summer the Spanish roads will be controlled by 34 camouflaged motorcycles from the Civil Guard Traffic Group. This is a pilot test that will be carried out during the weekends throughout the summer.
These camouflaged motorcycles will circulate especially on secondary roads, which are the ones with the highest accident rate, especially for motorcyclists, although they will also be able to circulate on other roads. Although they will focus on the group of two wheels, the agents who drive them will control the possible infractions of any type of vehicle. The objective is to reduce the accident rate and verify that responsible driving is carried out. We remember that 7 out of 10 deaths take place on secondary roads.
The camouflaged motorcycles of the DGT will be driven by agents of the Civil Guard although they will not be the ones to report the infraction but, in the case of witnessing any imprudence, they will notify the nearest patrol so that it is this one that carries out the arrest of the offender and file the corresponding complaint.
The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) forecasts that between July and August there will be 93 million trips, which represents an increase of 2.4% compared to 2021. In July alone, trips will reach 44 million with the added traffic increase on weekends.
More controls during the summer
So far this year, deaths on highways and expressways have increased by 35% compared to 2019 data, just the opposite of what happens on conventional or secondary roads, traditionally the most dangerous, in which the accident rate is It’s down 1% since January. The claims that have increased the most are road trips and accidents.
For this reason, the DGT is intensifying controls on all types of roads and, in addition to having 34 camouflaged motorcycles, has launched a comprehensive control device with 780 fixed speed control radars (92 are section), 545 mobile radars, 12 helicopters, 245 mobile and belt control cameras (29 more than last summer) and 39 drones for regulation activities (23 with the capacity to report).
The advice of the DGT
• Better slower, especially on conventional roads, where the generic speed is 90 km/h.
• Respect the speed established on each road and maintain a safe distance from the preceding vehicle. Invading this safety distance is aggressive, unacceptable and, most seriously, it causes accidents. All speed limits.
• If you drink, do not drive and if someone in the group you are with has been drinking, it is your responsibility not to let them drive. For minors, the only rate is 0.0.
• Turn off your mobile if you are going to drive or put the car mode on those devices that have it incorporated. There is nothing that cannot wait. In addition, if you carry your mobile in your hand, 6 points are deducted from your driving license.
• Wear your seatbelt properly and keep children in your child restraint system, both on long and short journeys. With the entry into force of the reform of the Law there are 4 points to deduct for not wearing it or wearing it wrongly.
• Stop every two hours on long journeys to rest. Driving fatigue is a bad ally.
• Special attention to motorcyclists and other drivers due to the vulnerability of two wheels. Keys to travel by motorcycle in summer.
• If you are a bicycle user, in addition to the helmet, you must ride with lights and reflective clothing at night or in low visibility conditions.
• In the case of pedestrians, if you walk on roads outside the town, remember that you must do so on the left and if it is at night or in weather or environmental conditions that significantly reduce visibility, you must wear a vest or other reflective clothing. Every year more than 100 people die after being run over on the road.
In addition, in these links I give you more recommendations that will help you make safer journeys:
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Tips for a safer summer in the car.
- The most dangerous roads in Spain
- The radars that fine the most in Spain
- What clothes and shoes do you have to wear to drive in summer?
- Tips for driving on highways and expressways
- Tips for driving on secondary roads
