Traffic Fines Revenue Exceeds 500 Million Euros for Second Consecutive Year

In 2023, the Spanish Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) issued 5,202,185 fines, marking a 6.67% decrease compared to the previous year. Despite this reduction in the number of fines, revenue from traffic penalties exceeded 500 million euros for the second consecutive year.

Despite the decrease in fines, revenue from penalties has increased, surpassing 500 million euros. These figures have been analysed by the consumer advocacy group, European Motorists Association (AEA). The organisation believes that the DGT has intensified surveillance on Spanish roads, leading to a significant increase in revenue from fines, despite a slight decrease in the total number of fines.

The DGT's revenue from fines reached 501,431,414 euros in 2023, marking the second-highest collection figure in its history.

According to the AEA report, the number of fines issued decreased in almost all autonomous communities compared to 2022, except in Castilla-La Mancha, where they increased by 17%, Madrid (16%), Navarra (11.2%), and Ceuta (41%).

In Madrid, the increase in fines was due to the intense sanctioning activity of a single radar located at km 20.2 of the M-40, which issued 118,149 of the 605,670 fines recorded on all roads in the Community. (See list of the 50 most fined radars).

Andalusia is the autonomous community with the highest number of fines in absolute terms (1,402,101 fines), although it is the Community of Madrid that leads the ranking of fines per kilometre of road network (187 fines per kilometre), while Aragón, on the contrary, recorded the fewest (14 fines/km).

Regarding the number of fines issued per vehicle, Castilla-La Mancha led the ranking with 0.28 fines per vehicle, followed by Castilla y León (0.28) and Cantabria (0.27).

Conversely, Ceuta and Melilla recorded fewer fines, both in absolute numbers (8,184 fines) and per vehicle (0.07 fines per vehicle).

Speeding accounts for two out of every three fines, according to a DGT report on the evolution of fines since 2015 by province and type of infraction. This is followed by not having a valid MOT, improper use of a mobile phone, not wearing a seatbelt, and having an expired or missing driving licence.

Since the introduction of speed cameras 20 years ago in Spain, road fatalities have decreased by 75%, suggesting a positive correlation between the increase in these devices and the reduction of serious accidents.

However, the debate over the allocation of fine revenue remains controversial. According to current legislation, revenue from traffic fines must be fully allocated to improving road safety, including infrastructure, road safety education, research, and victim assistance.

Nevertheless, the destination of this revenue is not entirely clear, prompting Patricia Navarro, president of the PP in Málaga, to request on 26 January that the Spanish Government allocate the money collected by the DGT from radars installed in the province to "improve our roads and alleviate the congestion that Malagueños suffer every day." To improve road safety, "traffic must be improved, and to reduce the number of accidents, roads and road infrastructure in the province must be improved; this is what we have been demanding from Sánchez and Minister Puente all this time," the leader emphasised.

From European Motorists Association (AEA), they highlight the significant number of fines issued mainly on motorways and dual carriageways, "and not on secondary roads where 70% of accidents with victims occur." Its president, Mario Arnaldo, believes that "the DGT should reconsider its radar policy, as it is not achieving the goal of preventing speeding or accidents, turning radars into mere revenue instruments."

In recent years, penalties have been tightened. These measures aim, according to the DGT, to reduce accidents, but "the increase in fines and the loss of points that entails taking courses to recover the licence and recovery exams raises doubts about their true intent," argue the lawyers of Pyramid Consulting.

Experts in fine management have noted an increase in the judicialisation of penalties, especially in cases where procedural errors are perceived "as the Administration does not provide the necessary evidence to substantiate the infractions."

This highlights, from their perspective, "the need for greater transparency and accountability from the authorities to ensure that funds are used according to their original purpose at the national level."