The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) is carrying out this week, until Sunday, November 26, a special campaign dedicated to the surveillance of vans in which controls will be carried out on all types of roads, especially conventional ones, since these are the ones that register the highest accident rate, as well as in areas close to shopping centers, industrial estates and places of loading and unloading, taking into account also that this week is celebrated the ‘Black Friday’ that will increase the already high circulation of these vehicles used for the distribution of goods.
In these controls, in which up to 180 agents of the Traffic Sector of the Civil Guard of Cantabria and the Local Police who want to join the campaign will participate, they will check the speed at which they traveled, the documentation, both of the vehicle and of the driver, the correct placement and weight of the cargo transported, the presence of alcohol and/or drugs in the body of the drivers or if it is up to date with regard to the Technical Inspection of Vehicles.
The Spanish Road Safety Strategy 2030 identifies as one of the strategic areas ‘Administrations, companies and safe organizations’, in which special attention is paid to traffic accidents and the improvement of the prevention of traffic risks during the working day, as well as the treatment of traffic accidents in itinere, is identified as a priority intervention line.
In 2022, 229 accidents were recorded in Cantabria in which vans were involved and in which there were 3 deaths, 7 serious injuries and 136 minor injuries. In addition, 4,107 complaints were filed against this type of vehicle: 2,357 per speed, 955 per expired ITV, 213 per mobile phone, 127 for non-use of the seatbelt and 189 for alcohol and drugs.
In Cantabria, according to data from the Provincial Traffic Headquarters, there are a total of 28,412 vans. These are mostly used as a work tool and, in fact, the National Institute of Safety and Health at Work has an Awareness Plan to reduce road accidents with vans.