The subdelegate of the Government, Isabel Rodríguez, participated today in the beginning of the DGT campaign for special control over distractions at the wheel, one of the concurrent factors in 31% of fatal accidents. They presented the campaign in the sixth national, at the entrance of the city of Lugo, where the subdelegate was accompanied by the lieutenant and deputy head of the Traffic subsector of the Civil Guard, José Manuel López Santiso, as well as the president of the Association of Modular Injured and Physically Disabled ASPAYM, Francisco Javier Vieites and the vice-president of the association, Manuel Vázquez.
Due to the high percentage of accidents that occur on conventional roads and coinciding with the Pilar Bridge, from this Monday, October 9 and Sunday, October 15, controls will be reinforced in the most dangerous sections with the presence of the integral patrols of motorists of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard. They will be equipped with portable means to perform speed control actions and alcohol and drug screening tests automatically without the need for support from the Attestation Teams or speed control teams.
In the province of Lugo, during the past year distractions at the wheel were present in 8 of the 17 fatal accidents recorded in interurban roads, that is, more than 45%, as well as in 40% of accidents with hospitalized people and in 26% of the total number of accidents with victims.
In the year 2023, in 4 of the 9 fatal accidents recorded on the road, this factor intervened again (45%, practically as last year). As for the total number of casualties with victims, the figure is also high: 37%.
Campaign
This campaign is part of the Spanish Road Safety Strategy 2030, in accordance with the parameters of the 2030 Agenda, with the objective of reducing the impact of high-risk behaviors through the application of new technologies, in particular, the surveillance of mobile phone use.
Isabel Rodríguez called on citizens to “warn of the importance of focusing attention on traffic, because during the last few years, the autumn months are usually the time with the most accidents: 7 deaths in 2019 during the period September-December, 6 in 2020, 4 in 2021 and 6 in 2022”.
He also explained that “this campaign is essential to contribute to the reduction of attitudes that put at risk the safety of traffic, as well as the lives of drivers,” thanking “the commitment of the security forces and bodies to detect these irresponsible behaviors.”
76% of Spanish drivers recognize driving their vehicle while they are distracted with some frequency. 23% say they track text messages on their mobile at the wheel, and 22% acknowledge talking on the phone without the device in free hands.