Spain road deaths down 12% on 2012

 

Road traffic deaths fell 12% in 2013 from the year before, according to figures released by the traffic authority (DGT) on Thursday.

"The death toll fell 15% on intercity roads and 2% percent on city roads," said the agency, which reported that a total of 1,680 people died on Spain's highways last year.

There were also 5,529 serious injuries and 114,634 minor injuries.

Speaking ahead of the agency's summer vacation campaign, DGT director María Seguí said that this was the most comprehensive study of road traffic accidents to date, as it included information from 100% of municipal authorities.

The report reveals that 171 of the people who died on roads last year, including 4 children, were not wearing seatbelts. Also, 76% of those killed were male.

Six out of every 10 accidents in which there are victims take place on city roads. "Being a pedestrian on city roads is the most dangerous thing of all," noted Segui.

She said the agency was expecting 79 million road trips in July and August, and warned that the average daily death rate rises to 6 in these months, compared with 5 for the rest of the year.

"We are adamant that there will be no deaths in July and August," she said.

Segui also warned that driving a car that is over 15 years old increases your chances of having an accident by a factor of five, and expressed concern that 43% of those drivers who were killed tested positive for drugs or alcohol.

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