ROAD SAFETY REPORT 2021 | SPAIN

SPAIN
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ROAD SAFETY REPORT 2021 | SPAIN

SPAIN
Spain recorded 1 370 road fatalities in 2020, a 21.9% decrease on 2019 figures. This marks
the third decrease since 2013, breaking a run of four consecutive years of increasing annual
road fatalities. In 2020, the traffic volume on interurban roads decreased by 22%compared to 2019. Between 14 March 2020 and 3 May 2020, road fatalities decreased by
72% compared to the same period in 2019. The Spanish Road Safety Strategy reached its
objective of reducing the rate of road fatalities to under 3.7 per 100 000 inhabitants by2020. In 2020, the Council of Ministers approved a package of legal reforms that
substantially amended the legislation on traffic and circulation. These legislative changes
aimed to create a new road safety model in line with EU policy and the WHO
recommendations to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries from road accidents
by 50% over the next decade. The Spanish Road Safety Strategy 2030 was presented at
the National Road Safety Council and is pending the approval of the Spanish Government.

Road safety management and strategy
Road fatalities in Spain peaked in 1989
with 9 344 deaths. They reached theirlowest level in 2020, with 1 370 deaths.
Since 2013, the number of fatalities
increased each year until 2017, with an
overall increase of 9%, most likely
explained by the increase in trafficvolume (measured in millions ofvehicle-kilometres travelled) over that
period, among other factors. In 2018,
the number of fatalities started to fall
again by a modest 1.3% and it
decreased again in 2019 and 2020 by
2.8% and 21.9%, respectively.
In the past 15 years, improvementshave been introduced in all elements of
the road traffic system. Indicators
related to drivers’ behaviour show thatspeeding, drink driving, and the nonwearing of seat belts have significantlyreduced. This is likely related toimprovements
ineducation
andtraining, increased enforcement, thepenalty point system and the Crime
Code reform.

Spain: Quick facts
Population: 47.3 million
GDP per capita: USD 27 068
Registered motor vehicles: 36.7 million•cars: 67%•goods vehicles: 14%•motorcycles: 10%

Speed limits:•urban roads: 10-50 km/h•

rural roads: 90 km/h

•motorways: 120 km/h

Limits on Blood Alcohol Content:•

general drivers: 0.5 g/l•

professional drivers: 0.3 g/l•

novice drivers: 0.3 g/l

Road fatalities: 1 370•

pedestrians: 19%•

cyclists: 5%•

car occupants: 40%•

motorcyclists: 25%•
other: 11%
Road fatalities per 100 000 population: 2.9
Road fatalities per 10 000 vehicles: 0.4
Cost of road crashes: 0.9% of GDP

The length of motorways and dual
All data 2020 unless otherwise stated.
carriageways increased from 4 693kilometresin1990
to15 583
kilometres in 2018. It is estimated that the fatality risk per unit of exposure on these types

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ROAD SAFETY REPORT 2021 | SPAINof roads is about 28% of the corresponding value for rural roads. There have also been
improvements in the traffic management system, with the mass rollout of traffic cameras,vehicle detectors, and variable message signs. This has contributed not only toimprovements in safety but also to reductions in congestion and travel times.
As for the vehicle fleet, necessary actions in roadworthiness inspections and renewal
schemes have been implemented.
Responsibility for the organisation of road safety in Spain lies with the Directorate Generalfor Traffic (DGT), which falls under the Ministry of the Interior. The core responsibilities of
the DGT are at a national level on all interurban roads, except for the Basque Country andCatalonia.
The DGT has many key roles, including issuing and renewing driving licences and vehicle
authorisations, and regulating and licensing private driving schools. The DGT is also
responsible for controlling traffic and enforcing traffic law on all interurban roads (except
in the Basque Country and Catalonia, and it is a shared competence with the traffic policein Navarra), including managing the Traffic Division of the Civil Guard (the police body incharge of traffic control and traffic law enforcement), with around 10 000 officers. Vehicles,
drivers and traffic offences are registered through the DGT.
In addition to the above, the DGT centralises road traffic statistics and coordinates crashinvestigations. It is also responsible for developing road safety strategies, plans andpolicies, co-ordinating with other relevant ministries or public bodies and supervising
driving information and road safety education campaigns.
The Spanish Road Safety Plan 2011-2020 was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 25February 2011. Its primary objective was to reduce the rate of road fatalities to under 3.7
per 100 000 inhabitants by 2020. This objective was reached.
A draft of the Spanish Road Safety Strategy 2030 has been developed by the DGT andpresented at the National Road Safety Council, the highest consultation body in Spain, withrepresentatives from other ministries and civil society. The Strategy is pending approvaland official presentation by the Spanish Government (Ministry of Interior). The Strategy
was developed under the Safe System approach and with the long-term target of Vision
Zero in 2050. Its main targets are aligned with those set by the European Commission: tohalve deaths and serious injuries until 2030 compared to 2019. The Strategy will also set
specific targets for the different road users, types of roads and age groups. The National
Road Safety Observatory will monitor progress towards the targets and publish a yearlyreport.

Latest road safety measures
In November 2020, the General Traffic Regulations were modified to change speed limits
in cities, reducing general speed limits on urban roads from 50 km/h to 30 km/h on singlecarriageway roads with one lane in each direction and to 20 km/h on single carriageway3

ROAD SAFETY REPORT 2021 | SPAIN

roads with pavements at the same level as the carriageway. Roads with two or more lanesin each direction are limited to 50 km/h. It entered into effect on May 2021.
In December 2018, the General Regulations on Traffic were modified to reduce the general
speed limit on all rural roads from 100 km/h to 90 km/h, in effect from January 2019.
In November 2020, the General Vehicle Regulations defined personal mobility vehicles andprohibited their use on interurban roads, through roads, pavements, urban tunnels, dual
carriageways and motorways that run through towns. They must have a traffic certificate.
In November 2020, the reform of the General Regulations for Drivers reduced the age
required to drive lorries and buses. It also allowed people with specific disabilities to accessthese driving licences.
In October 2019, the 2019-2020 Plan of Special Measures for the Road Safety ofMotorcycles and Mopeds was launched. The plan includes regulatory modifications toincrease the penalty points for not wearing a helmet and the mandatory use of gloves formotorcycle riders.
Since early 2019, the DGT has been working on a new set of measures linked to driver
training regulation, including introducing eight hours of mandatory theory training to obtaina driving licence, in line with other European countries.
In 2020, more than 3.1 million alcohol tests and 48 000 drug tests were carried out by theTraffic Division of the Civil Guard.
In collaboration with the Traffic Division of the Civil Guard on interurban roads and local
police forces, week-long targeted campaigns are implemented to address pressing roadsafety issues in urban areas. In 2020, campaigns included: school transport; trucks andvans; use of seat belts, child restraint systems and helmets; motorcycles; speed control;
rural roads; consumption of alcohol and other drugs; vehicle condition and distractions.
In 2020, as expected, due to mobility restrictions, the number of controls carried out waslower than in 2019.
The DGT is co-operating with road authorities to implement low-cost road safety
countermeasures on rural single-carriageway roads with one lane in each direction (1+1roads), such as reinforcing safe overtaking in areas with high crash rates. The installationof smart junctions will also improve safety at the most dangerous intersections on ruralroads with dynamic signalling systems warning of the presence of vehicles.
A new methodology will strengthen such steps for determining black spots, improve theidentification and analysis of dangerous areas, and reduce serious crashes in identified
sections. New criteria have been established for the location and management of speed
cameras. Focusing on the use of speed cameras in those sections with high crash rates or4

ROAD SAFETY REPORT 2021 | SPAIN

other dangerous conditions will further reduce the crash in these high-risk areas. The useof longitudinal rumble stripes will help avoid runoff and head-on crashes.

Costs of road crashes
According to police-reported data, traffic crashes represent a high cost for society,estimated at around EUR 4.1 billion (around 0.4% of GDP). However, when health data
are included, economic costs rise to EUR 9.6 billion (about 0.9% of GDP). These estimates
do not include property damage and administrative expenses.
Costs are based on calculating a monetary value of statistical life based on a willingnessto-pay approach. A value of a statistical life of EUR 1.4 million (2020 prices) is used tocompute the social costs of fatal road crashes in Spain. The same value is used to assess
the benefits of road safety measures and economic evaluation of Spanish transport
policies.

Safety performance indicators
Speed
Inappropriate speed is one of the leading causes of road crashes. In 2020, inappropriate
speed contributed to 9% of injury crashes and 25% of fatal crashes. On non-urban roads,inappropriate speed contributed to 19% of injury crashes and 27% of fatal crashes.
Drink-driving
The BAC limit is 0.5 g/l for general drivers and 0.3 g/l for novice and professional drivers
in Spain.
In 2020, on interurban roads, 77% of drivers involved in injury crashes and 64% of
fatally injured drivers were tested for alcohol, with 29% of fatally injured drivers testing
positive. On urban roads, 15% of drivers involved in injury crashes and 62% of fatally
injured drivers were tested for alcohol, with 43% of fatally injured drivers testing positive.
Drugs and driving
Regarding illegal drug consumption, in 2020, 61% of fatally injured drivers on interurban
roads were administered drug tests, with 19% testing positive. On urban roads, 62% offatally injured drivers were tested, with 31% testing positive.
Use of mobile phones while driving
Distraction, including the use of mobile phones, radios, DVDs, witnessing a previous
crash, looking at the environment, absent-mindedness and sudden illness or5

ROAD SAFETY REPORT 2021 | SPAIN

indisposition, was a factor in 17% of injury crashes and 31% of fatal crashes in 2020. It
is a more prevalent issue outside urban areas (37% of fatal crashes).
Since 2002, the use of handheld mobile phones while driving has been forbidden. Only
hands-free phones are permitted. As of 1 July 2006, driving while using handheld mobilephones, GPS, or other communication devices results in the loss of three points from thedriving licence.
Seat belt and helmet use
Seat belt use has been compulsory in front seats outside urban areas since 1974 andfront seats inside urban areas, and rear seats since 1992. In 2020, 27% of car and vanfatalities aged 12 and over were not wearing seat belts on interurban roads. This figure
jumps to 19 out of the 52 deaths on urban roads. As for people hospitalised following acrash, 14% of them were not wearing their seat belts on interurban roads and 29% on
urban roads.
Children with a height of less than 135 cm must be seated on rear seats and use adedicated child restraint system (CRS). In 2020, the three children (under 12) killed inroad traffic as car occupants were not using CRSs or seat belts.
Helmet use is compulsory for riders of all motorised two-wheelers. The helmet-wearing
rate is nearly 100%. Nevertheless, in 2020, 2% of those killed and 1% of hospitalised
motorcyclists on interurban roads were not wearing a helmet. On urban roads, 16% of
those killed and 4% of hospitalised motorcyclists were not wearing a helmet.

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ROAD SAFETY REPORT 2021 | SPAIN

Road safety data for Spain at a glanceLong-term road safety trends for Spain

Reported safety dataFatalities

1990

2000

2010

2018

2019

2020

2019

2020 % change over2010
2000
1990

9 032

5 776

2 478

1 806

1 755

1 370

-21.9

-44.7

-76.3

-84.8

101 507101 72985 503102 299

104 080

72 959

-29.9

-14.7

-28.3

-28.1

Injured persons hospitalised..

27 76411 995

8 935

8 613

6 681

-22.4

-44.3

-75.9

..

Deaths per 100 000 population

23.3

14.4

5.3

3.93.7

2.9-22.6

-45.7

-79.9

-87.6

5.1

2.2

0.7

0.5

0.5

0.4

-22.6

-49.7

-83.4

-92.7

1 542

898

471

386

381

260

-31.8

-44.8

-71.0

-83.1

160

84

67

58

80

71

-11.3

6.0

-15.5

-55.6

Injury crashes

Deaths per 10 000 registeredvehiclesFatalities by road user
Pedestrians
Cyclists
Moped riders

683

474

100

62

49

32

-34.7

-68.0

-93.2

-95.3

Motorcyclists

792

392

386

359

417

313

-24.9

-18.9

-20.2

-60.5

5 034

3 289

1 197732

641

544

-15.1

-54.6-83.5

-89.2

823

639

257

209

187

150

-19.8

-41.6

-76.5

-81.8

0-14 years

399

181

79

25

32

17

-46.9

-78.5

-90.6

-95.7

15-17 years

417

223

50

24

34

21

-38.2

-58.0

-90.6

-95.0

18-20 years

902

422

139

68

60

44

-26.7

-68.3

-89.6

-95.1

21-24 years

1 266

661

174

115

78

70

-10.3

-59.8

-89.4

-94.5

25-64 years

4 759

3 267

1 489

1 070

1 049

844

-19.5

-43.3

-74.2

-82.3

65-74 years

..

488

240

217

183

144

-21.3

-40.0

-70.5

..

≥ 75 years..

355289279

309

218

-29.4

-24.6

-38.6

..

Urban roads

1 576

1 070

550

489

519

395

-23.9

-28.2

-63.1

-74.9

Rural roads

6 916

4 349

1 839

1 235

1 145

910

-20.5

-50.5

-79.1

-86.8

Motorw ays

541

357

89

82

91

65

-28.6

-27.0

-81.8

-88.0

17 61525 71533 37535 66336 34336 657

0.9

9.8

42.6

108.1

453.7

642.1

717.9

764.4

774.3

774.5

0.0

7.9

20.6

70.7

Passenger car occupants
Other road users
Fatalities by age group

Fatalities by road type

Traffic data
Registered vehicles(thousands)
Registered vehicles per 1 000
population

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ROAD SAFETY REPORT 2021 | SPAIN

Evolution of road fatalities, injury crashes, motorisation, traffic and GDP inSpain, 2000-20
Index 2000 = 100

Road fatalities per 100 000 inhabitants in Spain in comparison with IRTADcountries, 2020

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ROAD SAFETY REPORT 2021 | SPAIN

Road fatalities per 10 000 vehicles in Spain in comparison with IRTAD countries,
2020

Evolution of road fatalities in Spain by user category, age group and road type,2010-20

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Road fatalities in Spain by user category, 2020

Road fatalities in Spain by road type, 2020

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Road fatality rate in Spain by user category and age group, 2020
Rate per 100 000 population in the same age group

Cost of road crashes in Spain, 2020
Unit Cost (EUR)

Total based onpolice reported
data (EUR)

Total when healthdata is included(EUR)

Fatalities

1.4 million

1.98 billion

1.98 billion

Hospitalised persons

226 544

1.51 billion

4.65 billion

Slight injuries

6 310

0.55 billion

3.01 billion

4.04 billion

9.64 billion

0.4

0.9

Total
Total as % of GDP

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ROAD SAFETY REPORT 2021 | SPAIN

Seat belt and helmet wearing rates
Percentages
2010

2012

Driver89

90

Passenger

88

91

Urban roads (driver)

83

86

Rural roads (driver)93

93

Motorways (driver)

96

96

76

81

Riders of motorised two-wheelers

98

99

Passengers of motorised two-wheelers

91

93

Front seats

Rear seats
GeneralHelmet

Research and resources
Publications
Main number of road safety, Spain 2020 (Las principales cifras de la siniestralidad vial,
España2020),
https://www.dgt.es/menusecundario/dgt-en-cifras/dgt-en-cifrasresultados/dgt-en-cifras-detalle/?id=00810.
Statistical Report of Road Crashes 2020 (Anuario Estadístico de Accidentes 2020),
https://www.dgt.es/menusecundario/dgt-en-cifras/dgt-en-cifras-resultados/dgt-encifras-detalle/?id=00819.
Trends in mobility and road safety in urban roads (Tendencias de la movilidad y lasiniestralidad en vías urbanas), https://www.dgt.es/menusecundario/dgt-en-cifras/dgten-cifras-resultados/dgt-en-cifras-detalle/?id=00161.
Websites
General Traffic Directorate: www.dgt.es/es/.

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ROAD SAFETY REPORT 2021 | SPAIN

Definition, methodology, data collection
A road fatality is defined as any person who dies immediately or within 30 days of acrash due to injuries sustained in that crash.
A seriously injured person is any injured person hospitalised for more than 24 hours due
to a road crash. By contrast, a slightly injured person is defined as any injured person
who was not hospitalised for more than 24 hours due to a road crash.
Finally, a MAIS3+ injured person is defined as any person with road crash injuries forwhich the score on the Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale is 3 or more.
In Spain, there are several sources of information for traffic injury data. The police collectdetailed information and data on the circumstances of crashes using a dedicated form.
Traffic police monitor the condition of those injured for 24 hours after the crash toclassify the person as killed, seriously injured or slightly injured.
From 1993 to 2010, estimating the number of people killed within 30 days among thoseinitially recorded as seriously injured was based on adjusting the number statisticallyafter monitoring a representative sample of seriously injured people for 30 days. From2011 onward, the number of fatalities has been determined by linking the register ofcrashes reported by the police and the national death register, which includes the total
number of deaths registered throughout the national territory.
Since 2011, Spain has reported the number of MAIS injured persons based on hospital
data. The methodology has recently been revised in the European Member States’ work
framework to harmonise data in the CARE database. The search for specific traumatic
injury codes is now performed among primary diagnoses and the 14 diagnoses that may
be recorded for each patient.

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