The DGT Intensifies Road Checks to Monitor Motorcyclists

With the arrival of good weather and an increase in motorcycle travel, especially on weekends, the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has launched an intensive monitoring campaign aimed at motorcyclists.

From May to October, the Civil Guard Traffic Group will increase checks on the roads most frequented by this group, with the aim of reducing the alarming number of accidents.

Recent data is concerning: 96 motorcyclists have died on interurban roads so far this year. An example of the severity of the situation was the weekend of April 25 to 27, when all six road fatalities were motorcyclists.

The campaign will focus on key risk factors that, according to the DGT, are responsible for most accidents and violations committed by this vulnerable group: speeding, illegal overtaking, not wearing a helmet, and the consumption of alcohol and drugs.

Spain has a fleet of nearly 6 million motorcycles and mopeds, representing 15% of all vehicles, yet accounting for 27% of road fatalities. The most common profile of a deceased motorcyclist is a male aged between 25 and 64 with more than ten years of license, although on weekends the average age of victims tends to decrease.

Conventional roads are the most dangerous setting, accounting for 80% of motorcyclist deaths. More than half of these deaths are due to road departures without other vehicles involved, although weekends see an increase in the number of collisions.

With this intensified monitoring, the DGT aims not only to ensure compliance with the rules but also to raise awareness among motorcyclists and other road users about the importance of caution and respect to reduce the accident rate of one of the most vulnerable groups.