The DGT is stepping up surveillance on roads frequented by motorcyclists

The DGT is stepping up surveillance on certain roads frequented by motorcyclists, to improve their safety compared with other drivers and to make sure they comply with the regulations.

The number of motorcyclists rises considerably with the arrival of summer. Thanks to the good weather and fewer journeys, especially in the city, many people decide to use their motorbike at this time of year. However, this brings other problems, such as the responsibility of car drivers towards motorcyclists, or whether the latter obey the traffic rules.

The DGT is aware of this situation, and plans to increase surveillance on roads that are especially frequented by motorcyclists, in particular, surveillance will be greater at weekends, which, in our view, is not so necessary, given that most long journeys are made during the week to get to work, and not when there is less traffic at weekends.

The police will use every means at their disposal to “improve” the safety of road users, paying special attention to motorcyclists. The Guardia Civil will keep watch from the roadside and from the air with its helicopters to make sure drivers comply with the regulations. So, remember to take special care at weekends not to get careless with speed, as a fine can come your way at the slightest slip…

Take special care on national roads, or routes with many bends such as mountain passes. These are the roads motorcyclists prefer for enjoying their vehicle, but it is on this type of road that the Guardia Civil’s surveillance will be greatly increased.

Some important data on motor vehicle drivers in recent years

In 2016, the last year with consolidated data, motorcycles accounted for 10% of the vehicle fleet, i.e. 3.2 million motorcycles, and the census of motorcycle drivers rose to almost 5 million, of whom 85.5% had obtained their category A driving licence before the 2009 regulatory change, and only 1.6% of the total obtained it after that reform.

Regarding accidents, motorcycle users were involved in 24% of all accidents with victims, i.e. 25,944 accidents, in which 343 motorcyclists died. On interurban roads there was a 5% reduction in the number of motorcyclists killed, while in urban areas 27 more motorcyclists died than in 2015.

The risk of dying in a road accident is 17 times higher on a motorcycle than in a car. Moreover, in 95% of road fatalities involving a motorcycle, the person killed is the motorcyclist himself.

By type of accident, in collisions between a motorcycle and another vehicle, offences were recorded for 36% of motorcyclists and 56% of the drivers of the other vehicles.