The delegate of the Government in Cantabria, Eugenia Gómez de Diego, and the provincial head of Traffic, José Miguel Tolosa, have today presided over the Autonomous Commission of the Higher Council of Traffic, Road Safety and Sustainable Mobility, in which the balance of road accidents in Cantabria corresponding to the year 2023 has been reported, which reflects an increase of 10% in the total number of accidents compared to the previous year, as well as an increase in the number of people killed, which was 21, three more than in 2022.
In 2023, in addition to the total number of accidents (3,181 compared to 2,882 in the previous year) and deaths, there was also an increase in the number of hospitalized injuries (125, 11.6% more) and of minor injuries (1,327, 8.9% more).
On the basis of these data, the assessment made in the Commission with regard to road accidents is “clearly negative”. Thus, both Gómez de Diego and Tolosa have lamented the “upsurge” in traffic accidents on the Cantabrian roads and especially the increase in deaths and hospitalized injuries, and have pointed out that the beginning of this 2024 “is not being positive either”, having recorded five fatal accidents in the first four months of the year.
For this reason, they have agreed to call for "awareness of the increase in accidents, respect speed limits, avoid distraction at the wheel and use of the mobile phone, maintain the safe distance and not drive if alcohol has been ingested". "We must reverse the trend of road accidents and each driver renew our commitment to road safety, with everyone's safety but starting with one's own," said the delegate.
The report has also highlighted the increase in accidents involving motorcycles and mopeds, the number of which has doubled compared to recent years. Thus, it has gone from registering between 100 and 150 accidents per year in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to exceeding the more than 300 in 2022 and 2023. As a result, there has also been a significant increase in the number of people injured and those killed.
In this line, Cantabria follows the same trend that is observed at the national level, with a strong increase in deaths in the vulnerable group (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists). This group included 15 of the 21 deaths in 2023: 5 pedestrians, 2 cyclists, 1 moped and 7 motorcycles.
In this regard, Tolosa has announced that the DGT will increase during this year the measures aimed at raising awareness and awareness in the prevention of this type of accident. In fact, as he has said, at the beginning of this month of May a thematic campaign will be carried out on accidents in mopeds and motorcycles, and a specific working group will be created to address this worrying increase in accidents.
Descent of infractions and radar of Saltacaballos
In terms of violations, the report reflects a 2.8% decrease in complaints filed (121,667), although sanctions for overspeed have experienced a slight increase of 1.2% (78,652 in 2023 compared to 77,674). Currently, Cantabria has nine fixed radar equipment and is preparing the installation of a new section radar on the A-8, at the height of Saltacaballos, which is expected to contribute to a better regulation of the speed in that area and a reduction in accidents, registering this area one of the highest in the Community.
Once this equipment is operational (it is expected to be in summer), there is an agreement between the Cantabrian Road Demarcation and the DGT, to vary the specific speed of the stretch from 80 Km/h to 100 Km/h. This installation will involve the disappearance of the 2 radar equipment currently installed in that area.
Tolosa has shown confidence that this change will have positive effects on the accident in this area, as has happened on the N-629 road between the towns of Limpias and Ampuero. "This road presented very high accident figures, and since the installation and signaling of the aforementioned section radar in 2018, there has been a very significant reduction, without any mortal casualties since its installation," he said.
Over 364 million investment
On the other hand, the Commission has addressed significant investments in infrastructure to improve traffic and road safety, including the extension of the A-67 motorway, the refurbishment of the La Hermida Gorge or the Sierrapando branch, with a joint budget of more than 364 million euros.
In addition, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility is carrying out improvements in intersections and the construction of roundabouts on key roads with a total budget of 2.49 million euros, as well as improvement works worth more than 12 million euros in the tunnels of the motorways and projects called ‘humanisation’ on different national roads, which seek to calm traffic and guarantee safe itineraries for pedestrians and cyclists.
Drowsiness and Driving
Due to the significant role that drowsiness plays in accidents, Gómez de Diego reported that the Commission has agreed to create a Working Group on Drowsiness and Driving, focused on developing strategies to mitigate this problem.
Drowsiness and fatigue are mentioned as important factors in many accidents, present in 7% of fatal accidents in 2021 and 8% in 2022. Typical accidents associated with drowsiness are usually road trips and collisions against fixed elements, especially on highways during the early morning hours.
"This group, coordinated by the DGT and made up of experts from various sectors, will work on improving the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of drowsiness at the wheel," explained the delegate.
Representatives of different Units of the General Administration of the State with direct or indirect competence related to Traffic and Road Safety have participated in the Commission, such as the lieutenant colonel of the Traffic Sector of the Civil Guard, Rubén Flores, or the prosecutor of Road Safety, Jesús Arteaga.
Representatives of the areas of Development, Transport, Industry, Presidency, Health or Biodiversity of the regional government have also participated, as well as representatives of the local police of Santander, Torrelavega and Castro Urdiales.