This accident has occurred in a context of growth in terms of mobility, both in terms of the number of long-distance journeys made and the number of vehicles and the census of drivers.
In 2019, displacements have increased by 2.5% (10.2 million more), which means that over 427 million long-distance journeys were made during the past year; The fleet of vehicles has increased by 2.2%, standing at 34.5 million vehicles, and the census of drivers has grown by 1.3%, reaching 27.2 million drivers.
Ministry of InteriorThese data have been released today in the presentation of the Road Accident Balance 2019 by the acting Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who explained that the figures presented are provisional and only referring to fatal accidents that occurred in interurban roads and victims registered up to 24 hours after the accident occurred.
Grande-Marlaska has indicated that we will have to wait until we have the definitive figures already consolidated in which the victims will be included at 30 days of accidents occurring in urban and interurban roads to have the complete radiography of road accidents in our country.
Framing
- In the previous context, the evolution of the accident rate over 365 days has been variable, as shown below:
- There have been 37 days with 0 deaths on the roads.
- The day with the highest road accidents was Sunday, July 21, with 13 deaths.
- The daily average of deaths in traffic accidents has been 3 people.
- The correct behavior of the drivers during the two summer months (46 fewer deaths than in the previous summer) has contributed greatly to the decline in annual deaths. This past August, with 98 dead, is the month of August with fewer deaths in all history.
- The month of April, with 74 dead, is the month of April with fewer deaths since there is data. The same situation occurs with the month of June, with 78 dead, the smallest monthly record in the June historical series.
Historical Perspective
To date, 2015 was the year with the least deaths on the roads, specifically 1,131 deaths were recorded. This year, with 50 million more trips than in 2015, 3 million more vehicles and 1 million more drivers, 1,098 people lost their lives in a car accident.
Ministry of Interior
As Grande-Marlaska has explained, "these data seem to indicate that a trend change is being consolidated that began last year in which for the first time and after four years of death increase, there was a slight decrease of 0, 8%. " Even so, he added, "The 1,098 violent deaths due to displacement are unacceptable to our society, and the data we present today is what encourages and encourages us to continue working because we all know that traffic accidents are preventable."
Radiography of the accident of 2019
Ministry of InteriorBy type of road: 800 people died in traffic accidents that took place on conventional roads, 84 less than in 2018, which is 9.5% less. Despite the decline, this type of road remains the most dangerous and where the highest number of fatalities are registered (73% of the total number of deaths).
In high-capacity roads, the deceased have also decreased compared to the previous year, but to a lesser extent. Specifically in 2019, 298 people have died on highways or highways, compared to 304 in 2018. Those killed on these roads account for 27% of the total deaths.
In the last ten years, the reduction of those killed on motorways-highways and conventional roads has been uneven. While on high-capacity roads the reduction of fatalities has been 28%, in conventional ones that percentage has been 46%.
By type of accident: The exit of the road is still the most common type of accident, with 39% of those killed, followed by frontal collisions (23%), front-side collision (12%), running over pedestrian (11%) and rear-end collision (9%). Percentages all of which remain stable compared to the previous year.
Ministry of Interior
By age: The age group with the most deaths is 45 to 54 years, with 20% (221 dead), followed by those over 65 with 19% of the dead (210).
In the case of young people, those killed between 15 and 24 years have accounted for 10% of those killed, a percentage that rose to 15% ten years ago.
Ministry of Interior
By type of user: The tendency is being confirmed that in recent years the deceased vulnerable users are increasing and the deceased users of four-wheelers are decreasing. In 2019, 46% of those killed traveled by car and that percentage ten years ago was 55%. In contrast, the vulnerable have accounted for 40% of those killed, while in 2009 they accounted for 30%.
Of the vulnerable dead:
- Motorcyclists: 264 deaths, 47 more than the previous year.
- Mopeds: 19 deceased, 11 less than the previous year.
- Pedestrians: 115 dead, 22 less than the previous year.
- Cyclists: 40 dead, 4 more than the previous year.
It is the first time in history since there is a record that closes a year with 0 fatalities by intercity bus.
Ministry of InteriorUse of safety accessories: 20% of those killed in cars and vans in 2019 did not wear a seat belt at the time of the accident, that is, 116 deaths. Remember that if they had used the seat belt, 50% of these dead could have been saved.
Of the 264 killed by motorcycle, 11 did not wear the helmet, nor 16 of the 40 dead cyclists.
Steps to follow
- Preparation of the Spanish Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 that will be aligned with the 2030 Agenda, with the guidelines of the European Union and with the agreements of the World Road Safety Summit that is scheduled for the month of February this year in Stockholm (Sweden).
- Continue working for safe and sustainable mobility, an essential prerequisite for a good road safety policy, both in urban and interurban areas. For this we are already working together with the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) for the next meeting of cities for safe mobility that will take place in the second half of the year in Zaragoza.
- Concentration of efforts in the protection of vulnerable (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists) with the implementation of the Special Measures Plan for the safety of motorists, the identification of 100 sections of high accident rate of motorists where signaling actions, infrastructure and surveillance, the completion of the regulation of safe driving courses for motorists and the promotion of the airbag for motorists.
- Continue with the regulatory changes, with the sending to the Congress of Deputies of the bill to update the Permit for Points and the reform of the Traffic Regulation that will establish the 30 km / h as maximum speed for streets with a single lane of circulation, a measure requested by municipalities to help calm traffic in cities.
- Continue to monitor the main risk behaviors.
- Continue working to enforce the Traffic Law, which is the most effective way to reduce accidents and victims.
