The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has launched a large Intensive surveillance and control campaign against distracted driving, with the aim of reducing one of the behaviors that most contributes to road accidents. According to Traffic data, distractions appear in 13.164 accidents, equivalent to 18% of the total, and are present in 30% of fatal accidents (406 cases).
The performance will be extended until Sunday, October 12 and will be carried out on all types of roads, both in urban areas and on interurban stretches. Officers from the Civil Guard's Traffic Group will participate, along with regional and local police forces who will join the operation, in addition to automated means such as 245 cameras capable of detecting mobile phone use From a distance. We'll tell you everything so you can stay alert and avoid problems on this long weekend...
What will the DGT monitor?
The Civil Guard control teams will pay special attention to the manual use of the mobile phone, the use of headphones or audio headsets, the manipulation of browsers and other technological devices. In addition, it will go a step further with various types of behaviors such as eating, smoking in the car, reading or being distracted with other occupants of the vehicle, who diminish attention required to drive safely.
The DGT deployment will be reinforced in conventional roads and sections classified as high risk, where distractions are more likely to have more serious consequences. Where possible, variable message boards and displays in official vehicles will be used to provide advance notice of upcoming checks.
How the device is coordinated…
The Provincial Traffic Headquarters are coordinating the DGT operation to mobilize the maximum number of human and material resourcesIn addition to road surveillance, the DGT's network of cameras makes it possible to detect prohibited behaviors, such as carrying a cell phone in one's hand, even from a distance and without stopping traffic.
Data and balance by territory…
Galicia
The Government Delegation in Galicia has detailed that controls will be intensified in conventional and dangerous points. In the last similar regional campaign, 51.124 vehicles were inspected and 1.327 complaints were filed, of which more than 500 were for irregular use of the telephone. In addition, in 2024, 8.153 complaints were accumulated for distractions related to mobile phones and headphones, an increase of 4,5% compared to the previous year, and distractions were a concurrent factor in the 22% of fatal accidents in the community
Cantabria
In Cantabria they participate up to 180 agents Traffic Department together with local police. In last October's campaign, 202 drivers were reported, 100 of them for manually use the mobile phoneThe ESRA-2023 survey also shows that 22,2% of drivers in Spain admit to making calls without hands-free access, and 24,7% admit to reading messages or checking social media while driving.
Andalucía
The controls in Andalusia will have the support of numerous town councils and the collaboration of ASPAYM volunteers. In the previous campaign, 172.643 vehicles were inspected and 1.724 drivers were fined; the most common violation was driving while holding a mobile phone (48,9% of the reports). Drivers without a seatbelt were also detected (112 fines). use of headphones or other devices (100 sanctions) and positive alcohol and drug tests associated with distractions.
Guadalajara
In recent controls on interurban roads in Guadalajara, 3.589 vehicles and 143 complaints were filed, of which the use of the telephone, headphones and other behaviors such as eating or manipulate the navigation systemAuthorities remind us that dialing a number can increase the risk of an accident by 12, and reading or writing messages by six.
Leon
The Government Subdelegation has invited around twenty municipalities in León to join the operation between October 6 and 12. The DGT emphasizes that the Distraction can be visual, auditory, physical or cognitive, and respond to causes such as interaction with passengers, food, adjustment of vehicle systems or fatigue and drowsiness, elements that significantly increase the exposure to risk situations.
European framework and social support…
This action is part of the European initiative Focus on the Road of RoadPol, the European Traffic Police Network, which promotes simultaneous campaigns to reduce road distractions in different countries. International coordination facilitates the exchange of good practices and the measurement of the impact of these interventions.
As in previous editions, the campaign has the participation of ASPAYM (National Federation of Spinal Cord Injuries and Other Physical Disabilities). Volunteers will accompany officers at checkpoints in provinces such as Albacete, Almería, Ávila, Burgos, Granada, the Balearic Islands, Las Palmas, La Rioja, León, Lugo, Málaga, Palencia, Toledo, Valencia, Valladolid, Zamora and Zaragoza to raise awareness with first-person testimonies on the aftermath of the accidents.
Risks and evidence of distractions…
Studies confirm that even brief distractions alter attention and reflexes, promote late reactions and trajectory errors and increase the risk of collision. The European Road Safety Observatory (ERSO) points out that drivers perform other tasks for approximately half the time behind the wheel, with the phone as a major source of distraction.
In Europe, a significant proportion of drivers use hands-free mobile phones, but significant numbers of those who use them persist. without hands-free or to read messagesIn Spain, ESRA-2023 data indicates that the habit of checking the phone is still very prevalent despite the known risks.
Applicable regulations and sanctions…
The Traffic Law classifies driving with a vehicle as a serious offense. headphones or audio headsets connected to sound systems or devices that reduce attention. Also common is using a cell phone while holding it in your hand, or manipulating navigation systems or other communication systems while driving.
These behaviors entail a fine of 200 euros and, in the case of a mobile phone, the loss of 6 points on the licenseAutomated roadside surveillance allows for more effective detection of these violations, especially thanks to DGT cameras and random checkpoints.
Review of recent campaigns…
In the national campaign of October 2024, coordinated with 419 municipalities in 41 provinces, 48,2% of the fines were for using a mobile phone while driving, a figure that was around ten points higher than the previous year. At the same time, Traffic Department places distraction as the most common offense. main concurrent factor in fatal accidents at both the state and regional levels, with figures that in the previous year rose to 409 accidents with fatalities linked to distractions.
The set of measures - in-person and automated controls, coordination with local police, European RoadPol action and the presence of ASPAYM - aims to reduce high-risk behaviors And remember that full attention while driving can make the difference between an incident-free trip and an avoidable accident. Watch out for them...
Source - Directorate General of Traffic (DGT)
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