Virginia Barcones presents the new head of the Provincial Traffic Headquarters of Soria, Sergio Gómez Deán

• The government delegate in Castilla y León has stressed the need for drivers to respect traffic rules to avoid the loss of human lives • So far in 2023, 11 people have died on the roads of the province. More than 70% of these deaths, in particular 8, are related to distractions and fatigue at the wheel • During 2022, agents of the Traffic Subsector of the Civil Guard in Soria carried out 16 special campaigns

June 27, 2023.- The delegate of the Government in Castilla y León, Virginia Barcones, presented this morning the new provincial head of Traffic of Soria, Sergio Gómez Deán. During his speech, he highlighted the challenge of making drivers aware of the need to comply with traffic rules in order to avoid the “unbearable loss of human life that occurs on our roads”.

The inauguration of the new provincial head of Traffic in Soria has taken place in the Subdelegation of Government. Virginia Barcones has highlighted the experience of Sergio Gómez to hold the position of provincial head of Traffic since 2015 he has held the post of deputy head, less an interval, between March and August 2017, in which he was provincial head of Traffic in Cuenca. Because of that trajectory, he is “a person who lives, feels and knows the concerns and needs that the position requires.”

In this regard, he has stressed that among these concerns is that of reducing road deaths to the minimum. In this regard, he recalled that the last three years have been tragic on the Sorian roads since there were 13 deaths in 2021 and 14 in 2022. “This year, when we have not yet reached the moment of more traffic on our roads, as of June 25, we have already added 11 deaths in nine accidents. More than 70% of the deaths this year, in particular 8, took place in accidents caused by fatigue or distractions at the wheel,” he said.

In Castilla y León, only one province, León, has suffered more fatal accidents, 11, which resulted in 12 fatalities.

As for the total number of deaths on the roads of the Autonomous Community, in which we have since 2023 there are 49 people while last year there were 58. In other words, the number of fatalities has been reduced by 15.5%.

CAN'T LOOK THE OTHER WAY

Virginia Barcones has insisted that you can’t look “the other way. We must not forget that behind every death on the road there is more than a figure. With every passing, there is a family and social tragedy.”

In this sense, the 105 agents assigned to the Traffic Subsector of the Civil Guard work conscientiously to enforce road safety regulations, to eliminate the risks involved in the road.

Thus, during 2022 they carried out, with the help of the Provincial Traffic Headquarters, up to 16 special control campaigns, in some of which the local police collaborated. In this way, for example, alcohol and drug campaigns, review of vehicle conditions, speed or review of school transport and vans were carried out. The last of these special campaigns took place last weekend. It was the motorcycle one.

FRANCISCA DELGADO

The delegate of the Government recalled that the former provincial head of Traffic, Francisca Delgado, retired last April after 18 years at the head of the Provincial Headquarters, a task that she thanked: “My heartfelt thanks for the work done throughout this time. For a lifetime of service to the citizen.”

Before finishing, Virginia Barcones has called on the whole society to be prudent when it comes to going out on the road. Likewise, he has not doubted that Sergio Gómez, as head of the Traffic Headquarters in Soria, will put all his efforts, experience and professionalism into reducing the accident on the roads of the province, in ending “that social scourge that has caused so many tragedies in our society.”

The delegate of the Government has been accompanied by the subdelegate of the Government in Soria, Miguel Latorre; the autonomous coordinator of the DGT, Inmaculada Matías; and the Chief Captain of the Traffic subsector of the Civil Guard in Soria, Diego Francisco Gil.

COLLABORATION BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS

For his part, Sergio Gómez has indicated that his new position as head of the Provincial Traffic Headquarters represents for him “an exciting challenge”, which he faces with “great enthusiasm and commitment”. He recalled that the General Directorate of Traffic aims, within the Road Safety Strategy 2030, to “reduce by 50% the deaths and serious injuries caused by traffic accidents” in this decade something for which collaboration between institutions is necessary.

“We must strengthen the relationship with the municipalities and their local police, to improve road safety in our municipalities. It is important to collaborate with the main associations and companies in the sector”, he said, to remember that the 11 deaths that we have in Soria so far this year represent one more than in 2022 by these same dates. “These figures are unbearable, Road Safety must be everyone’s commitment,” he added.

In this regard, he recalled that the traffic regulations aim to “save lives”, and recalled that the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard plays a fundamental role in ensuring compliance with these rules.

To conclude, Sergio Gómez has called for prudence in the face of the festivities of San Juan that are just around the corner. “I want to remember the importance of not consuming alcoholic beverages or other drugs before we get behind the wheel. Even a lower than legal blood alcohol level can double the risk of a traffic accident,” he said.

CURRICULUM OF SERGIO GÓMEZ DEÁN

Sergio Gómez Deán is a graduate in Aeronautical Engineering, a university master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and private pilot of aircraft.

In November 2010 he joined by opposition in the Ministry of Development in the Body of Aeronautical Technical Engineers where he contributed to improving the safety levels of Civil Aviation. First at the State Aviation Safety Agency as chief inspector and team coordinator in conducting physical and documentary audits and inspections of aircraft and civil aviation related organizations. Subsequently, as an analyst technician in the Commission of Investigation of Accidents and Incidents of Civil Aviation, he participated in different investigations as a researcher in charge and analyzing the parameters of the data recorders of aircraft involved in accidents or incidents of aviation.

In 2015 he joined the Superior Scale of Traffic Technicians, where he held the post of provincial deputy head of Traffic of Soria until March 6, 2017.

On March 7, the Provincial Traffic Headquarters of Cuenca was incorporated as provincial head. In that position he voluntarily ceases on August 31, 2017 to return to Soria.

Since September 1, 2017, he has held the post of Provincial Deputy Chief of Traffic in Soria.