Less road accidents in Almeria this summer

HALF of Almeria’s road accidents this summer occurred in Barranco del Tesoro.

There were 24 serious traffic accidents last July and August, and 13 of them happened on this steep stretch of bends on the A-7 which covers the 16 kilometres between Los Collado and La Herreria.  This route has to be taken by drivers making their way to Almeria’s Levante zone.

The five road deaths in Almeria this summer – four in July and one in August -were a slight improvement on 2010 when seven people lost their lives, said the DGT traffic police department.

There had also been a reduction in the number of people injured in serious road accidents which dropped to 98 – 44 in July and 46 in August – compared with 108 in July.

These encouraging statistics were a clear indication that drivers were becoming more responsible, said the DGT.  Significantly, out of 3,806 breath-test controls carried out on Almeria’s roads between July 11 and 17, only 68 (1.79 per cent) were positive.  Of these, 7 (0.16 per cent) were classed as offences.

It was important not to drive after drinking any alcohol at all, stressed the DGT, which pointed out that 12 per cent of motorists who lost points from their driving licences had been drink-driving.