Grande-Marlaska congratulates the Traffic School of the Civil Guard in Mérida for its 25th anniversary
The Minister of the Interior has presided, together with the president of the Junta de Extremadura, Guillermo Fernández Vara, the celebration events, which were also attended by the Government delegate in Extremadura, Yolanda García; the general director of the Civil Guard, María Gámez; the undersecretary of the Interior, Isabel Goicoechea; and the Director General of Traffic, Pere Navarro, among other authorities
After discovering a commemorative plaque on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the school, attendees have been able to witness an exhibition of driving two and four-wheelers and a road safety road show organized by the Mérida City Council
"For the Ministry of the Interior it is a privilege to have the Civil Guard Traffic Group as a support element committed to mobility and road safety." Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska visited the Civil Guard Traffic School in Mérida (Badajoz) this Monday and witnessed the commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the creation of the center together with the president of the Extremadura Board, Guillermo Fernández Rod.
The event was also attended by the Government delegate in Extremadura, Yolanda García; the general director of the Civil Guard, María Gámez; the Undersecretary of the Interior, Isabel Goicoechea, and the General Director of Traffic, Pere Navarro, among other authorities.
In his speech, the Interior Minister had a memory for the members of the Civil Guard Traffic Group killed in the act of service or victims of terrorism, and predicted that the Traffic School, "which is already a pioneer in the design of university courses related to traffic, road safety, accident investigation and reconstruction, road transport and driving, it will soon be considered a true faculty of traffic and road safety ”thanks to its link to the university center of the corps .
Grande-Marlaska has uncovered a plaque commemorating the anniversary. Afterwards, he has witnessed a media exhibition and a presentation of the school by its director, Colonel José Lope Galiana, as well as an exhibition of driving motorcycles and four-wheelers.
Finally, the Mérida City Council has organized and sponsored a road-show to raise awareness among youth of the risks of reckless driving and the suffering caused by traffic accidents. This activity has been attended by students from the different courses that are being developed at the school, as well as a small representation of students from an institute in the city.
The Traffic School and Mérida
The first courses dedicated to traffic services were held in 1959 in Madrid, prior to the founding of the Traffic Association on August 26 of that year with the mission of monitoring, regulating, assisting and controlling traffic and transport, thus as well as to guarantee the safety of the circulation in the interurban roads. Since this year, and until 1961, a total of 17 courses were held in different locations: El Escorial, Colmenar Viejo, Valdemoro and Madrid.
As of 1962, the courses take place at the Mobile Command and Automobile Park and the practical driving classes at Venta la Rubia in Campamento (Madrid). Between 1986 and 1996, the Traffic School was established in the premises of the College of Young Guards of Valdemoro (Madrid).
Since January 1, 1996, the Traffic School was located in the Mérida dependencies, inaugurated by the Kings on January 31 of that same year. The school depends, organically and functionally, on the Headquarters of the Traffic Association; technically, from the Civil Guard Teaching Headquarters, and, in collaboration for teaching purposes, from the General Directorate of Traffic.
In addition to the courses dedicated to traffic and transportation, specialty courses have also been held among other national and foreign police forces with competencies in traffic.
Since its inauguration in 1996, almost 13,000 students have passed through the Mérida Traffic School. In 2021 there are a total of 507 students taking the different courses taught at the center:
- Specialization: motorcyclist courses, reports and management.
- Change of modality: courses for crowded motorists and vice versa.
- Basic training: courses in cinemometers, GIAT, COTA.
- Improvement: transportation courses, specific for drug detection and university expert course on road accident reconstruction.
