Traffic Issues Over 900 Fines Daily for Not Wearing Seatbelts

More than 900 fines are issued daily for not wearing a seatbelt or child restraint system (CRS), according to the latest campaign by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT). The campaign, which ran from March 10 to 16, inspected a total of 448,494 vehicles, marking a 7.6% increase compared to the same period last year.

A total of 6,019 drivers or passengers were found not using seatbelts, and 385 children under 135 cm were travelling without the appropriate CRS or using it incorrectly.

77% of those not wearing seatbelts or CRS were on conventional roads, which are the most dangerous, with road departures being the most common accidents.

According to the DGT, seatbelts and child restraint systems are among the most effective measures for protecting vehicle occupants. So far this year, of the 133 fatalities where it is known whether safety devices were used, 42 were not wearing them at the time of the accident (31.6%).

This special control operation involved officers from the Civil Guard Traffic Group, as well as local and regional police who joined the campaign. They conducted a special surveillance and control operation on both urban and interurban roads regarding the use of seatbelts and child restraint systems.

A total of 448,494 vehicles, including cars, taxis, goods vehicles, and buses, were checked, representing a 7.6% increase compared to last year's campaign. A total of 6,409 fines were issued to drivers and passengers for not using the mandatory restraint system.

Specifically, 6,024 adults were fined for not using seatbelts, including 3,088 drivers, 1,291 front-seat passengers, and 1,645 rear-seat passengers who were not properly protected in the event of a traffic accident.

It is proven that seatbelts reduce the risk of death in a traffic accident by 50%, prevent ejection from the vehicle, and protect against impact with the windshield. In urban areas, the likelihood of serious injury or death is five times lower if a seatbelt is worn.

Additionally, regarding child restraint systems, mandatory for children under 135 cm, officers detected 385 children travelling without using this safety device or using it incorrectly, with 285 in the rear seats and 100 in the front seats.

For children, the use of child restraint systems is even more crucial, as data shows that nine out of ten serious or fatal child injuries could have been avoided with the mandatory restraint systems. Furthermore, in the event of a traffic accident, injuries are reduced by up to 75% with proper use.

To deter such behaviours, the Traffic and Road Safety Law increased the penalty in 2022 to a loss of 4 points for not wearing a seatbelt, the same penalty for not using the appropriate child restraint system or using it incorrectly. The financial penalty amounts to 200 euros.