Specific devices every weekend of the summer period, which reinforce the first weekends of each month or during specific festivities giving rise to so-called departure or return operations. This year there are five and the first begins on July 4th. The main objectives of the summer campaign are safety and mobility on our roads. Motorcyclists, road trips, distractions and alcohol and driving are among the main concerns of the Ministry, which will increase vigilance with specific campaigns during the summer.

July 1, 2025.- Summer 2025; a summer that, following the upward trend of movements in the first six months of the year, forecasts a record of displacements, exceeding 12 million long-distance movements during the two summer months.

Specifically, it is estimated that 12,102,000 trips will be made, to which should be added the short-distance ones, which are the ones that most concern the DGT, since most of them are carried out by conventional roads, less safe and in an environment many times known where attention to driving is reduced.

Of the more than 12 million displacements, almost 5.3 million will occur in the month of July and more 6.3 million during the month of August.

We have before us a challenge that is none other than to reduce the number of road accidents compared to last summer in which 30 people died in Castilla y León, with a forecast of more trips, more vehicles on the road, more citizens who come to our country to enjoy our beaches and towns and who also drive and a very high traffic of all those citizens of Europe who go to Portugal or go to areas of North Africa; a challenge for which we need the help and commitment of all road users.

The main objectives of the summer campaign are safety and mobility on our roads. During the summer months, when the risk of accidents increases compared to the rest of the year, the DGT intensifies its actions to protect all road users. At the same time, efforts are being made to ensure that movements take place in an orderly and safe manner, addressing both the usual congestion caused by the high volume of traffic and the problems that may arise unexpectedly. These incidents can be linked to summer trips themselves—to beaches, tourist destinations or second homes—or caused by external factors such as cuts in roads, works…

A TREND THAT CONSOLIDATES

During the last few summers, a pattern has been consolidated in vacation travel: departures and returns tend to be distributed in shorter periods and to be concentrated on weekends. For this reason, the DGT has foreseen a series of specific operations every weekend of the summer period, reinforcing especially the first weekends of each month or during specific festivities, giving rise to so-called departure or return operations.

Based on this pattern, five special traffic operations have been established:

· 1st Operation output: From Friday 4th to July 6th.

· Operation Santiago: From 24th to 27th July

· Operation August 1st: From 1st to 3rd August.

· Operation August 15: August 14-17.

· Operation Return: August 29th to 31st.

In addition to the usual national traffic for holidays, every year many vehicles registered in other European countries cross our roads, either because their final destination is Spain or because they only transit through it to other points such as Portugal or North African countries.

At the national level, due to the number of vehicles involved, the Strait Crossing Operation stands out, where forecasts point to an increase of 5% compared to the 850,000 vehicles that crossed the Strait last year.

DGT develops a special plan that covers the main routes —such as the Mediterranean Corridor, the Central Corridor and the Vía de la Plata— and that has a human deployment of more than 27,000 people. Two rest areas and five information points staffed by specialized personnel have also been set up. In addition, the Border Information System has more than 2,400 information panels along the corridors and more than 2,000 cameras that allow us to predict the estimated times of passage through the ports and react to any incident.

At the national level, with lower vehicle numbers, Operation Portugal Pass is being carried out, in which approximately 212,000 vehicles are expected to arrive in Portugal and where surveillance on the A-62 and A-66 axes is strengthened and constant informative signage is maintained along the route from Irún or La Junquera to the Portuguese border crossings.

IN SIGHT…

Last summer, 5 motorcyclists died in Castilla y Leon, mainly in accidents that took place on a conventional road, during the weekend, due to a frontal collision, with large motorcycles and in most cases the driver was more than ten years old of the permit. A major problem if we consider that, at the national level, motorcyclists account for less than 3% of road trips and yet account for 25% of deaths.

This group is so remarkable that it maintains a close collaboration with the sector to promote actions that contribute to curbing this dramatic number of victims. Good proof of this is that, during the presentation of the device, the participation of Juan Manuel Reyes, president of the National Association of Bikers, has taken the opportunity to offer key recommendations to all motorcycle users, so that they return to their safe and healthy homes and can remember the positive experiences of the summer.

Road exits, with 37% of fatal accidents, frontal collisions with 30% of the deceased, distractions at the wheel (the first cause of accidents) and the age range between 45 and 54 years old - which is the one with the highest number of accidents last summer - are also factors of concern.

These concerns are what lead us to strengthen controls and to launch specific surveillance and awareness campaigns this summer, with special emphasis on speed control, behind many of the road trips that take place; driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and protecting motorists to reduce accidents and make roads safer for everyone.

TIPS THAT CAN SAVE LIVES

During the presentation of the campaign, some tips are recalled, many of them already known, but not always put into practice, with which the risk of suffering an accident will be reduced and much pain will be saved.

· When you get behind the wheel, remember that your only task is to drive: always keep both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, avoiding any kind of distraction, which is the first cause of fatal accidents in summer.

· The heat and long trips exhaust, so it is essential to rest every two hours and not lower your guard on short trips, which is where most fatal accidents occur at this time of year.

· Never drive after consuming alcohol, 29% of fatal accidents are related to their consumption and last year alone there were more than 50,000 criminal cases for this reason. Congress is already in the process of drafting a bill to reduce the blood-alcohol ratio. In addition, he recalled that sharing alerts of controls by WhatsApp, what is being encouraged is that someone who has drunk chooses another road and puts lives in danger. Don’t be an accomplice!

Road safety is a commitment of all and a true country project. If we act with prudence and responsibility, we will gain as a society and we will make these days just a reason for good memories. That’s why it’s never worth taking the risk of winning five minutes or having an extra drink. After an accident, nothing is the same: on the road, don’t play it, LIVE!

…AND A MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO WATCH FOR OUR SAFETY

Finally, we want to send the patrols a sincere message of thanks to all the traffic agents of the Civil Guard, highlighting their dedication and their vocation to serve the citizens. Their commitment and effort are essential to guarantee safety on the roads, providing assistance to drivers and attending to any incident with proximity and professionalism.

Likewise, their tireless work even when most are on vacation, never lower their guard and always remain vigilant to ensure the tranquility of those who travel. Therefore, special emphasis is placed on their know-how, as authentic “angels of the road”, whose work is essential for the proper functioning of mobility and road safety.