Spain achieved a historic fact, but it is with an asterisk. 2019 was the year with fewer deaths on roads: 1.098. All the numbers, realize that the annual balance sheet confirms a consistent reduction in recent years. But there are a number that continues to increase: the vulnerable users (pedestrians, ciclomotoristas, motorists and cyclists). In the case of the deaths on motorcycles reached the highest figure since 2011. A total of 264.
confirms the trend. While the deaths in the car are reduced, the deaths of vulnerable users increase. This data (438 deaths, 18 more than in 2018) has not stopped rising since four years ago. The number of bikers killed is something that’s already lit the alarms in the ministry of the Interior, who has admitted that the increase -47 more than last year— has called attention. In fact, had not reached an amount so high from almost a decade ago, when he came to the 270. “[This] is our biggest concern. We come from observing that circumstance that continues to grow”, admitted the minister of the Interior in office, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, during the balance of the deaths on rural roads, 2019, of the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT).
road Deaths
1989 was the year with more deaths on roads from which there are records
5.940
6.000
4.241
4.000
1.729
2.000
1.098
-81,5%
0
1990
2000
2010
2019
Source: DGT.
THE COUNTRY
road Deaths
1989 was the year with more deaths on roads from which there are records
5.940
6.000
4.241
4.000
1.729
2.000
1.098
-81,5%
0
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2019
Source: DGT.
THE COUNTRY
road Deaths
1989 was the year with more deaths on roads from which there are records
5.940
6.000
4.241
4.000
1.729
2.000
1.098
-81,5%
0
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2019
Source: DGT.
THE COUNTRY
To reverse this situation, the DGT identified during 2020 100 sections of high accident rate of bikers to work on their signage, the upgrading of their infrastructure and surveillance. In addition, to intensify its awareness-raising campaigns and the promotion of the airbag on motorcycles. Marlaska was considered that these actions are more than justified and it is regretted that many of these deaths could be avoided: “11 of the 264 riders and 16 of the 40 cyclists who died were not wearing a helmet”. Already recorded the first death of a motorcyclist in Spain this year. It happened this Thursday in the village of Beasain (Gipuzkoa), after the driver of a motorcycle collided with a tourist the day before and died several hours later in the hospital.
On the whole, the vulnerable users, who lost their lives in the asphalt have increased over the last ten years considerably. 40% of 1.098 deceased in 2020 were pedestrians, cyclists or motorists. That percentage ten years ago was 30%. A positive fact that he left the past year is that, for the first time in history, there were no deaths in buses, when by 2018 the number had reached 11 victims.
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in Addition to the fatalities, 4.395 people were hospitalized after an accident on the roads. This means a decline of 6.7%. The historical record of 1.098 traffic deaths happened despite the increase of the fleet of vehicles that came to the 34.5 million (more than 2% with respect to last year). Far from casting the bells to the flight, Marlaska recalled that, in the matter of human lives, the figures are “not good” but “less bad”.
Again, the roads were the main víar urban where there were fatal accidents, although it is reduced considerably, ranging from 884 in 2018 800 2019. Another photo that leaves the annual balance sheet of the DGT is the of the ages. Traffic deaths are more common in among people from 45 to 54 years, and 65 and over. Away from the false idea that the strip age of the most young people are who more are injured. Grande-Marlaska this is a clear indication that road safety education has been a success. Yes, must redouble efforts: a project is “quite advanced” to reform the law of update of the driving points, and is implemented by the current director of the DGT in 2006
