The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska did not use any hot cloth yesterday to refer to the number of motorcyclists killed in 2023: “It is real nonsense”. According to the provisional balance of accidents registered on Spanish roads, 299 motorists lost their lives last year, 45 more than in 2022. A figure that causes “maximum concern” to the General Directorate of Traffic, which is why they will start various measures throughout the year to try to reduce the accident rate of this group.
Among this battery of measures, the mandatory course for B permit drivers with three years of experience who want to drive motorcycles of up to 125 cubic centimeters stands out. Until it enters into force, once the three-year period has been completed, the possibility of driving motorcycles with this cylinder capacity was automatic. It will not be retroactive.
The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) will also update the content of the points recovery courses to incorporate a specific profile for motorists who have lost their points balance. It will be a specific course of safe and efficient driving. According to the head of the Interior, companies will be urged to periodically send their workers who depend on the motorcycle to do the work.
In addition, the use of the integral or modular helmet and approved gloves will be mandatory on the road. The Minister of the Interior also promised that the DGT will review the current exams to obtain the permit to forgive more weight in the road tests.
These data were made public during the presentation of the traditional road safety report, which states that last year ended with 1,145 deaths in traffic accidents. The figure is practically identical to that of 2022, when three fewer people died, despite the fact that in 2023 long-distance journeys increased by 2%.
Derailment continues to be the type of accident with the most deaths, with 486 people, 42% of the total number of fatalities, this is also a figure similar to last year.
Marlaska highlighted one data that he has sent to the Road Safety Observatory for “in-depth” analysis: 7% of accidents due to leaving the road could be related to drowsiness. In most of these types of accidents, the driver was alone and they mainly happened at night or after lunch. The minister wanted to remember that Spaniards sleep 10% less than the European average, which he has described as a public health problem.
A sleep problem, but also another “very important” one with the consumption of alcohol and drugs at the wheel. In 2023 there were almost 60,000 convictions for this reason, which is why the minister announced that this year alcohol controls will increase by 10% to reach 6 million and also this percentage for drug controls until reaching the 120,000. However, he ruled out a new increase in penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. “Not everything is fixed like this”, he defended.
And a fact that, no matter how much it is repeated year after year, it does not cease to surprise: in the middle of 2023, 25% of those killed on the road were still not wearing a seat belt. Despite the countless campaigns, the tightening of sanctions, or even the annoying devices that warn if you are not on the ropes, the number does not go down. A total of 138 people traveling in cars and vans did not use this device. In the case of the dead motorcyclists, eight of them were not wearing a helmet and nine of the dead cyclists were not wearing one either.
