Alcohol, seat belt and mobile phone use: the most common offences, according to the DGT

The DGT is running a special safety campaign during the Almudena festivities and has recorded a significant number of offences related to alcohol, drugs, speeding, seat belt use and mobile phone use while driving.

During the Almudena festivities, the Civil Guard carried out a special safety campaign in which 380,117 vehicles were checked by Civil Guard officers on conventional roads. The aim of this campaign was to raise drivers’ awareness and monitor their behaviour while travelling on roads without physical separation between the two directions of traffic. Despite having lower traffic density, these roads account for a large percentage of road accidents in our country. During the seven days covered by the festivities (5 to 11 November), Traffic officers reported 18,538 drivers for breaking some traffic rule. Among the most common offences are alcohol and drug consumption, not wearing a seat belt, using a mobile phone while driving and exceeding speed limits.

794 people tested positive for alcohol

With regard to positive results for driving after consuming drugs, Traffic officers intercepted 694 drivers who tested positive in these tests. The drivers who tested positive for alcohol numbered 794.

1,129 people reported for not wearing a seat belt

Another of the most common offences was not wearing a seat belt. In one week alone, 1,129 people were reported for not wearing a seat belt while travelling, and another 74 for not transporting the children they were carrying with an appropriate child restraint system. Likewise, another 53 people were travelling on two-wheeled vehicles without wearing a helmet.

751 drivers used a mobile phone while driving

The use of a mobile phone or wearing headphones while driving remains a common practice among some drivers, as confirmed during the monitoring campaign. In one week, and on conventional roads alone, 1,017 drivers were reported for distractions at the wheel; 751 of these reports correspond to using a mobile phone while driving.

7,491 fines for exceeding speed limits

Compliance with speed limits remains one of the outstanding issues of road safety in our country. In this campaign, 7,491 drivers were reported for travelling at a speed above the permitted limit.