The Spanish car fleet is one of the oldest in Europe. The age of the vehicles that circulate on the highways and streets of our country has increased by 70% since 2008 and already exceeds 14 years, according to data from the employers’ association of car and truck manufacturers Anfac. A worrying figure from the point of view of road safety, since the age of the vehicle doubles the risk of death or serious injury in the event of an accident.
Proper maintenance of safety elements is an essential factor in combating accidents, especially in older vehicles that lack driver assistance systems (ADAS). Tráfico warns that the average age of the fleet of cars with less than 25 years ranges between 9 years for industrial tractors and 14.2 years for trucks weighing more than 3,500 kg. Regarding passenger cars, 70% of all cars, the average age is 11.5 years.
For this reason, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) starts from today until next Sunday, June 11, a campaign to monitor and control the conditions of vehicles that circulate on Spanish roads. The agents of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard put the focus these days on the review and proper maintenance and tuning of tires, brakes, lights and signage or favorable ITV, among other elements. The campaign is extensive to the rest of the local and regional police officers who join this initiative.
As stated in the 2030 Road Safety Strategy, the roadmap designed by the DGT to halve by 2030 the number of deaths and serious injuries in traffic accidents in relation to 2019, the age of the vehicle is related to its level of security. The risk of dying or being seriously injured is multiplied by two when comparing accidents that occurred with vehicles that are 10 to 15 years old, in relation to vehicles less than 5 years old.
Also, Traffic recalls that another aspect linked to the safety of the vehicle and its contribution to road safety is the need for maintenance, which is proportional to its age. A vehicle with deficiencies in the braking, suspension, steering or tire systems is a vehicle that is more prone to an accident.
During the validity of the campaign, that is to say until next Sunday, June 11, the traffic agents will control various safety elements of the vehicles that circulate on Spanish roads in order to combat accidents. For this reason, the DGT points out that drivers must pay special attention to the maintenance and tuning of the following elements.
The steering system is made up of a set of elements that allow the driver to vary the trajectory of the vehicle. If when operating the steering wheel you notice looseness, noise, vibration, abnormal hardness when turning or irregular tire wear, it is due to a failure of the mechanism that must be checked.
It is a key element in the safety of a vehicle, since it allows us to slow down or stop the car. It is convenient to periodically check the pads, discs and the level of the brake fluid.
The suspension and damping are responsible for the stability and braking capacity of the vehicle. Although suspension deterioration is imperceptible, if the steering becomes unstable or the tires experience abnormal wear, there may be a problem with the suspension.
Periodically, and especially before embarking on a long road trip, it is advisable to check the condition of the tires. Said review involves checking the tread depth (1.6 mm minimum), deformations, irregular wear and pressure, which must be measured when cold.
The purpose of car lights is not only to see, but also to be seen. It is important to check both the indicators and the lighting: they must be in perfect condition and well regulated so as not to dazzle other drivers.
If the vehicle has problems starting, it may be due to the poor condition of the battery. A symptom of the deterioration of the battery are the sulfates that appear on the terminals, so in cases like this it is convenient to replace the battery with a new one to prevent it from leaving us lying around at any time.
The DGT urges drivers to check the brake, windshield wiper and oil fluid, as well as the tension of the belts and the condition of the oil, air and pollen filters.
Maintaining a comfortable temperature in the passenger compartment reduces fatigue, which has an impact on safety. Therefore, if the air conditioning cools little or noises are heard when connecting it, it is necessary to check it.
We must verify that the windshield does not present any damage, since it is a fundamental part of the structural resistance of the vehicle, in the effectiveness of the airbag and in supporting the ADAS cameras and sensors. It is also necessary to check the condition of the wiper blades and replace them if they are damaged.
Faced with increases in consumption, jerks when starting or running, it is likely that the injection system (carburation in old cars) is not working correctly. If this happens, you have to take the car to review.
