More radars on 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 conference that brought together representatives of the various sectors involved 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 the number of radar speed traps on the roads had to be limited and where necessary, existing ones would have to be moved to different locations if it was felt that the need was greater elsewhere.
Navarro denied that it was the DGT’s intention to increase revenue from fines and added that their aim was to achieve a greater respect for the traffic laws which in turn, they hoped, would reduce the number of accidents.
Although he maintained that recent changes in the traffic laws had led to safer behaviour by road users, Navarro pointed out that 15,000 or 0.6% of drivers still lost their licences every year via the points system.
Statistically, the roads are much safer now than before the licence points system was introduced; 2000 fewer deaths have been recorded on the roads over the last year.
Before the points system came into operation, an average of 11 people died on the roads, this figure has now gone down to 5.2 deaths a day.
If we look at Europe, as a whole, Spain’s road safety record has also improved, 68 road deaths per million inhabitants were registered last year as opposed to 123 per million in 2003 when the European average was 105.
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