By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 20 Nov 2015 • 15:30
ACCORDING to data from the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), the Spanish government agency responsible for road transport policy, more than 1000 people have lost their lives in road accidents so far this year. To be exact there were 1,003 deaths between January 1 and November 18. This is an increase of 4 accidents compared to the same period last year.
After a decade of declining fatalities, 2014 was the first year that saw an increase again.
DIA, an association of the victims, said: “Every time it becomes harder to reduce the number of deaths. Traffic accidents remain a national problem. While many think it might be a thing of the past, on the contrary, we cannot forget that everyday almost 5 people lose their lives in accidents.”
January and February saw increases of 40 per cent and 14.5 per cent in traffic deaths respectively, compared to the same months the year before.
In March and April the numbers started to decrease again. The DGT says this is due to a change in strategy. They are focusing more of their attention on the secondary roads, where almost 80 per cent of deaths happen.
There has been a proposal circulating to lower the maximum speed limit on secondary roads to 80 km/hour, however, like many other political proposals, it will have to wait until after the Spanish general election on December 20.
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