The government delegate in Extremadura, José Luis Quintana, and the two provincial traffic chiefs of Cáceres and Badajoz, Cristina Redondo and Pedro Ignacio Martínez, have presented the measures approved by the Ministry of the Interior and that will implement the DGT to reduce accidents on the roads.
The government delegate explained that 2023 has been the worst year of the last decade in terms of accidents on the roads of Extremadura; reaching the figure of 51 deaths; which represented an increase of 70% compared to the previous year.
Quintana has explained that despite the fact that so far in 2024 the incidence of accidents with fatalities has been reduced considerably in Extremadura, (from 24 deaths until May 13 in 2023, to 12 in the same period of 2024); the Ministry of the Interior has decided to implement a series of measures throughout Spain to avoid the repetition of these figures.
The delegate said that “We cannot remain impassive, it is imperative to break this upward trend in road mortality. The DGT is taking an in-depth look at the claims to see exactly what is going on and to take concrete measures that will be implemented immediately.”
At the moment, the data point to a greater severity of accidents, an increase in accidents with deaths on the motorways, an increase in serious accidents with alcohol involvement and inadequate speed, there was also in 2023 a significant increase in the number of motorcyclists deceased and, as always, distraction appears as a prominent factor among the causes of accidents.
Quintana has assured that throughout this year these measures will be implemented that are concretized in:
1.- Increased automated speed monitoring through the installation of new radars; reinforcing the installation of section radars.
2.- Increase in the staff of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard.
3.- Increased surveillance of the motorways of the region; through static patrols with high-visibility parking lots, dynamic patrols and the use of unlabeled commercial vehicles.
4.- Increase of actions through the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) network: increase of information through the variable information panels, greater surveillance through the cameras, greater monitoring of the most affected roads by the Traffic Management Centers (CGT), as well as greater air control through the Air Media Unit (UMA).
5.- Increased alcohol and drug controls. The presence of these controls will be intensified on all tracks and at any time.
6.- Strengthening the safety of motorcyclists. Control and surveillance campaigns aimed at motorcyclists will be intensified on weekends between June and October, months in which the presence of this group is more frequent. Information and prevention campaigns aimed at motorcyclists will also be strengthened, increasing awareness messages about this group and its vulnerability through social networks, variable message panels and any other available means.
7.- Intensification of surveillance on professional transport. The monitoring of professional and van transport will be increased, especially on working days. In addition, more alcohol and drug checks will be carried out on professional drivers.
8.- Increased coordination with the owners of the roads. Contacts and coordination with the holders of the different roads (Junta de Extremadura and provincial deputations) will be strengthened to identify the sections in which road safety can be improved.
9.- Intensification of information campaigns, awareness raising and promotion of preventive culture. Concrete actions will be implemented to address the accident and promote awareness about this problem. Among other measures, a strengthening of communications through press releases, social networks and our own media will be applied. Variable message boards will be used intensively to disseminate awareness messages on road safety, especially adapted to the specific characteristics of the road or section in question.
After the presentation of the measures, the government delegate, José Luis Quintana, has insisted on calling on all drivers to exercise extreme caution at the wheel because “we have made a lot of progress in recent years, we cannot go back; we must continue to be aware that recklessness costs lives. We have the mechanisms to achieve this, but we need everyone’s collaboration.”