- At 15 hours, the DGT launches a special device that will last until 24 hours on Tuesday, August 15
- Estimated 427,500 trips on Murcian roads during Special Operation “August 15”
- Since the beginning of Operation Summer on July 1, four people have died, 20% less than the previous year
August 11, 2023. From Friday, August 11, to Tuesday, August 15, the Provincial Traffic Headquarters will activate a special traffic plan designed by the DGT, on the occasion of Special Operation “August 15”. During these five days, around 427,500 trips are expected on the roads of the Region of Murcia, which represents 17% of the total vehicle movements planned for this month.
This device is one of the three major operations that constitute Operation Summer 2023, (Departure, August 1st and Return), which began on July 1st and has since recorded a total of four deaths, 20% less than the previous year, among them a pedestrian run over, two motorcycle drivers and a tourist passenger.
“There will be a special device to guarantee the safety and fluidity of these movements. There are 200 agents of the traffic sector of the Civil Guard, who throughout this special operation Summer 2023, are carrying out these special tasks of surveillance, regulation and control, especially in certain points with a high level of conflict’’ Explains Virginia Jerez, Provincial Traffic Chief.
The Civil Guard will be supported by the Levante Traffic Management Center (CGTL) and the Variable Message Panels available on our main roads. In addition, it will have the fixed and section speed control points, seven mobile radar units and the air support (helicopters and drones) that could be programmed by the CGTV.
Accident
Between January 1 and August 10, 2023, 400 accidents involving victims were recorded on interurban roads, in which 26 people died and 51 were hospitalized.
Compared to last year, there have been 21% more casualties with victims, although the number of deaths has decreased by 7% and the number of serious injuries by 27%.
“To date, there are four deaths this summer, in this special operation, one less than last year, and of those four, 75% of the deaths, all in July, were vulnerable users, two motorcyclists and a pedestrian, and 75%, too, have been accidents that were recorded on conventional roads”, adds Jerez.
Regarding the consumption of alcohol/drugs during driving, 56% of the deceased drivers on interurban roads, analyzed by the Institute of Legal Medicine (IML) shows a positive result in the consumption of some of the substances mentioned: 25% had consumed alcohol, 25% drugs and 6% both combined.
Conflicting stretches
A).- In departure itineraries:
A-7: pk 567, direction Algeciras, link to the A-30 pk 135
B).- In return itineraries:
A7: pk 570, direction Tarragona, link with A-30 pk 138
A-30: pk 136,500 sense Albacete.
RM-12: pk 0, link to AP-7 and CT-32
C).- In both itineraries:
A-30: pk 135, with link A-7 pk 570
Movement restrictions
1. Dangerous goods transport vehicles that must carry orange hazard signage panels according to ADR:
The transport of dangerous goods is restricted in the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia on the following dates and times:
- On all roads:
On Sunday, August 13, from 8:00 to 24:00 hours
On Tuesday, 15 August from 08:00 to 24:00 hours
2. Special vehicles and vehicles requiring additional driving authorisation.
Special vehicles and vehicles that require additional authorization of circulation is restricted in the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia on the following dates and times:
- On all roads:
On Sunday, July 30 from 8:00 to 24:00 hours;
On Tuesday, 1 August from 08:00 to 15:00 hours
Alcohol and Drug Use Control and Surveillance Campaigns
On the other hand, coinciding with the Special Operation “August 15”, the Headquarters will carry out a special campaign of surveillance of drug and alcohol consumption among drivers. The forecasts indicate that the agents will control around 7,500 drivers on interurban roads, as well as other controls carried out by the Local Police of the 20 City Councils of Murcia adhered to this initiative.
“During the final stretch of this third phase there will be a surveillance campaign on alcohol and other drugs that will begin on Monday 14 and will last until August 20. During those days, some 7500 checks will be carried out by the traffic sector of the Civil Guard on interurban roads and there is a fundamental work for us, the accession of about 20 municipalities in the region whose local police will carry out checks on the urban roads of their competence” Explain Jerez.
Alcohol consumption remains the second most frequent concurrent cause in traffic accidents on the roads. Increased reaction time, underestimation of speed, as well as vision and coordination problems are consequences of alcohol intake. Accidents with drunk drivers also become much more serious with the increase in the blood alcohol rate.
“It is very important to reflect on alcohol and drugs and their prevalence in accidents and fatal accidents. So far this year in our region it has been recorded that 56% of the deceased drivers on interurban roads had previously used alcohol or other drugs”, Add Jerez.
When a driver has a blood alcohol rate of 1.5 g/L, his accident incidence rate is estimated to be 22 times higher than that of a sober driver and his fatal accident incidence rate is approximately 200 times higher than when dealing with drivers who have not ingested alcohol.
In total, this 2023 in the Region of Murcia there have been 26 fatal accidents in interurban roads, and in 58% of them alcohol/drug consumption by one of the drivers involved or pedestrians has been present. Of the 17 deceased drivers, 56% had consumed alcohol or drugs, while the percentage remains at 33% if we talk about the deceased pedestrians.
During the last alcohol and drug control campaign carried out between December 5 and 11, 2022, the Traffic Sector of Murcia conducted 5,009 alcohol and 53 drug tests, with the result of 45 positives (0.90%) of alcohol and 20 drugs (37.74%).
Results obtained by the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard of the Region of Murcia
| ALCOHOL | CONTROLLED DRIVERS | REPORTED | % COMPLAINTS |
| December 2022 | 5.009 | 45 | 0.90% |
Results obtained Traffic Group of the Civil Guard of the Region of Murcia
| ALCOHOL | CONTROLLED DRIVERS | DENUCIATED | % COMPLAINTS |
| December 2022 | 53 | 20 | 37.74% |
In terms of preventive controls, the Traffic Sector of Murcia, during the year 2023, has carried out by the ATGC a total of 93,877 alcohol tests, with the result of 1,337 positives, which represents 1.42% of the total. Regarding drug testing, the ATGC has carried out a total of 2,012 drug tests, with the result of 919 positive tests, which represents 45.67% of the total.