The accident rate increased by 12% in the month of July, with 131 deaths

The General Directorate of Traffic has taken stock of the first month of the Exit and Entry Operation this summer and the results are not at all positive: the accident rate increased by 12% in the month of July, with 131 deaths, 14 more than the same month 2019, reference year as it was the last with normal mobility.

After two years of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this summer the typical mobility of this time of year has been recovered. Compared to July 2019, long-distance movements have increased by 5%.

Specifically, 45.2 million long-distance movements were registered throughout the month, compared to 43.3 million in July 2019.

Head-on collisions and hit-and-run deaths are on the rise

In this context, during the month of July there have been 122 fatal accidents on the road in which 131 people have lost their lives, according to the DGT. Conventional roads continue to be the roads where the highest number of fatal accidents are recorded, with more than seven out of ten deaths.

Depending on the type of accident, frontal collisions increase, going from 22 deaths in July 2019 to 37 in July this year. Those killed by a hit and run have also suffered a rebound this month, going from four fatalities in July 2019 to 11 this year.

The DGT points to an increase in speed violations in Spain

According to the means of displacement, the number of vulnerable deceased fell by almost 3%, especially those who traveled by motorcycle (35 in July 2019 compared to 27 in July 2022).

Regarding the use of safety systems, ten of the deceased were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident (eight were traveling in a car, one in a van and one in a truck weighing more than 3,500 kg).

Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha and Navarra, the autonomies with the most claims

By autonomous communities, Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha and Navarra are the autonomous regions with the highest increases compared to the figures for July 2019. On the contrary, the Canary Islands have registered three fewer deaths.

The day with the most fatalities was Wednesday, July 13, with 11 deaths. By contrast, there was a day with 0 deaths, on Monday, July 11.