200 New Speed Cameras for Spanish Roads

Pere Navarro, director of the national traffic department (DGT), told the press today that there would be a limit on the number of new radar speed traps on the roads each year, stating that "they cannot increase indefinitely" and quoting 150-200 as possible limits.

In a breakfast conference that brought together representatives of the various sectors concerned with traffic problems, including José Antonio Alonso, the man responsible for pushing through the licence points system, the issue of radars was debated, along with the core traffic safety issues: speed, helmets, seatbelts and alcohol.

It was agreed that there had to be a finite number of radar speed traps on the roads, and where necessary, existing ones would have to be moved to different locations if it was felt that the need was greater elsewhere.

Navarro (pictured) denied that it was the DGT's intention to increase revenue from fines, but rather to achieve a greater respect for the traffic laws, which in turn would reduce the number of accidents.

Although he maintained that recent changes in the traffic laws had led to "safer behaviour" by drivers on the roads, Navarro pointed out that 15,000, or 0.6% of drivers, still lost their licence (because of the points system) every year.

Statistically the roads are now much safer than before the licence points system was introduced, with 2000 fewer deaths being recorded on the roads last year than when the system was first introduced.

Before the points system came into operation, an average of 11 people were dying on the road each day, which has now been reduced to 5.2 deaths a day.

On a Europe-wide level, Spain's road safety figures have also improved, registering 68 road deaths per million inhabitants last year, whereas in 2003 there were 123 per million at a time when the average in Europe was 105.