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Fernando Grande-Marlaska Summer Ends With Spain Recording Lowest Number of Traffic Deaths In History Spain News

Spain has recorded its lowest number of deaths on the country’s roads despite a surge in traffic post lockdown.

During July and August, a total of 191 people lost their lives on Spanish roads, the lowest number of fatalities registered since records began.

With the end of lockdown came the return of mobility and as a result, around 91 million road trips were recorded. However, despite the increase in traffic, Spain’s Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska (pictured) announced at a press conference that there had been a record fall in deaths.

During the press conference, Mr Grande-Marlska explained that the 2021 figures had actually been compared to those in 2019, due to the vast reduction in trips as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions that were in place.

When comparing the number of trips taken, the minister said that the 91 million trips were just 0.8% fewer than those taken in 2019, allowing the authorities to make a more realistic comparison.

In July there were a total of 43.2 million trips equating to 0.15% less than 2019. August, which is typically the busiest month on Spanish roads saw 47.5 million journeys, which was 0.6% less than in 2019.

Mr Grande-Marlska was upbeat about the increase in mobile post-pandemic saying that it was “good news”. He also celebrated the fact that the downward trend in accidents had been maintained.

"The statistics are not as bad as we expected: the figure of 191 deaths registered this summer is the lowest since there are records, but we must not use this data to launch a triumphant message, we cannot forget that, during these summer months, every day three citizens have lost their lives on our roads, " Grande-Marlaska warned.

"We must not fall into triumphalism, 191 deaths this summer are many, too many, as are the 651 recorded since last January 1. That is why I encourage everyone to maintain the effort and constant work to reduce the accidents of trafficking and its dramatic consequences because that objective is a project of the country and a responsibility of all," the Interior Minister stressed.

In total there were 191 deaths recorded with 752 people seriously injured or hospitalised.

The number of deaths is 24 fewer than recorded in 2019 which was the lowest number since records began.

The minister also pointed out that July 2021 registered the fewest number of deaths for any July with 99 deaths registered. In August there were a total of 92 deaths which was six fewer than in 2019.

Andalusia saw the largest number of deaths of Spain's autonomous communities with 54, followed by Catalunya with 27 and Castilla y Leon with 26 fatalities.

Grande-Marlaska also highlighted that 75% of all deaths occurred on conventional roads and that around 46% of deaths were the consequences of vehicles leaving the road. The minister said that such accidents were “usually related to excessive speed.

Shockingly, he also pointed out that the figures suggested that an incredible one in four deaths in cars and vans were primarily due to drivers not using a seat belt.

Source

https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/serviciosdeprensa/notasprensa/interior/Paginas/2021/030921-siniestralidadvial.aspx
https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/4809129/0/verano-acaba-191-muertos-carreteras-menor-cifra-historia/
https://www.europapress.es/sociedad/noticia-191-personas-murieron-carreteras-espanolas-verano-cifra-mas-baja-tienen-registros-20210903114139.html

Image Credit: La Moncloa