DGT Launches New Road Safety Initiative In Spain
Spain News
Published: 08 March 2023 14:15 CET
The Spanish Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has initiated a new road safety surveillance campaign that will be in place from now until Sunday, 12 March.
In order to achieve this objective, aerial surveillance will be increased using helicopters and drones, along with automated monitoring through the 245 cameras located on both conventional and high-traffic roads.
Guardia Civil traffic officers, as well as regional and local police, will be enforcing compliance with the use of seat belts and child restraint systems for all vehicle occupants, including adults and children.
Non-compliance is considered a serious offence, and anyone not adhering to the law may be fined up to 200 euros and lose four points from their driving licence.
In regards to child car seats, failing to have one or using it incorrectly is considered a severe offence, and the punishment for such a violation is the same as that for the non-use of seat belts.
According to the DGT, the aim of the campaign is to ensure that ‘all the occupants of the vehicle, adults and minors use a seat belt or the appropriate child restraint system.’
History has shown that wearing a seat belt halves the risk of death in an accident. Yet, according to data from the DGT, in 2022 some 142 people travelling in cars and vans died because they weren’t wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
The correct use of child restraint systems is also crucial, as data reveals that nine out of ten severe or fatal child injuries could have been prevented if mandatory restraint systems were used. In addition, injuries can be reduced by up to 75 percent in the event of an accident when child restraint systems are properly utilised.
In Spain, it is compulsory that minors with a height equal to or less than 135 cm use a child restraint system that is appropriate to their size and weight.
Children must be seated in the rear seats, except when the vehicle does not have them, they are already occupied by other minors or it is not possible to install child restraint systems in them. It is also recommended that they travel in a seat facing the rear of the vehicle, if possible up to 4 years, and mandatory up to 15 months.
This initiative is in addition to the campaign organised by RoadPol (European Road Surveillance Network) which aims to emphasise the fundamental importance of these restraint systems within the European Union.
Sources
https://www.diariosur.es/nacional/nueva-campana-vigilancia-dgt-helicopteros-drones-camaras-20230306115641-nt.html
https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/new-dgt-road-safety-campaign-launched-spain-20230307183528-nt.html
https://n332.es/intensive-control-of-seat-belts-and-child-restraints-this-week/
