The subdelegate of the Government in Lugo, Isabel Rodríguez, presented this morning in the city of Antas de Ulla an action to sensitize the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard through the distribution of 200 reflective vests to “remember that visibility can save many lives”. He was accompanied by the lieutenant of the Civil Traffic Guard, José Manuel Santiso, the provincial subxefa, Seila María González, and the mayor, Pilar García Porto.
Isabel Rodríguez explained that the objective is “to fight the dripping of dead and injured pawns, year after year, on the roads of the province,” insisting that “reflective vests are crucial for both pawns and drivers.”
In this line he assured that 2023 can be the first year, since 2013, in which no pawns run over on the carts of the province die. Since then, 16 pawns lost their lives for their cause, which add to the many dozens of deaths previously.
The deputy delegate lamented “each and every one of the accidents”, since last year a deadly attack was recorded, while both in 2020 and 2021 2 people died, which amounted to 5 in 2019.
However, Rodríguez recalled that “although this year we still do not have any mortal victims for this cause, an issue that we pursue with all possible resources, it does not mean that we managed to end the problem”.
Not since 2023 there are 9 atrocities with victims, which caused the hospitalization of 6 people and 5 non-hospitalized wounds. In the province it is usual that there are more than 10 atrocities every year, with highs of 24 in 2015, 20 in 2018 and 17 in 2021. Last year 11 were registered.
“We have before us a challenge as a society to get no more pawns to lose their lives in a sinister road and, of course, not to go backwards because of excess confidence.”
According to the subdelegate, “the solution necessarily involves the commitment of pawns and drivers to become visible, maintain attention and comply with the rules at all times. Making oneself visible is vital, especially when travelling on tracks without sidewalks and in conditions of low light. Autumn and winter are the times when there are the most accidents for running over.”
Urban traffic accidents
Although the most serious consequences are on the road, most of the rapes with victims take place on urban roads: between 70 and 85% of the total in recent years.
Not that this year we have 50 atrocities with victims in an urban area, 61 last year, 60 in 2021, 44 in 2019. Also with fatalities: 2 in 2017, 1 in 2019, another in 2022 and none at the moment this year.
Special alcohol and drug surveillance campaign behind the wheel
In addition, from Traffic they remember that during these days, from December 11 to 17, the DGT is carrying out a special surveillance campaign on the risk of driving when alcohol or drugs were taken.
For this, the agents of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard (ATGC), as well as the local police who joined the campaign, will establish different control points on all types of roads, as well as our urban hulls, and any time of day.
In particular, during these days before the Nadal, in which there are many dinners or meetings with family and friends in which alcohol is usually present, it is important to remember that, at the wheel, the only safe rate is 0.0%.
“Whether we stay for dinner or a drink, it is vital that the person who has to drive abstains from drinking. Another alternative is to organise the meeting by dispensing with the car beforehand and opting for another way to return home.”
At the national level, alcohol consumption remains one of the most frequent concurrent causes of traffic accidents, being present in 14% of the accidents with victims in 2022 and, as a concurrent factor, in 29% of those who registered fatalities.