TODAY THE 90 KM/H SPEED LIMIT ON CONVENTIONAL ROADS COMES INTO FORCE

On 29 January 2019, the law restricting the maximum speed limit on conventional roads to 90 km/h comes into force. A measure that, unlike others, seems to enjoy better acceptance among the general public.

The amendment of article 48 of the General Traffic Regulations comes into force today, with the 90 km/h maximum permitted on conventional roads as its main feature. The 100 km/h signs on these roads are gone.

Conventional roads in our country cover more than 14,419 km. Over the last 30 days, the Directorate General of Roads, through its regional divisions, has removed and replaced the old signage showing the maximum speed on roads commonly known as “nacionales”.

As always, public opinion is divided. Many people defend this reduction in speed, clearly in the name of improved safety on this type of road, while many others see yet another strategy by the DGT with a clear revenue-raising aim, under the usual premise that speed kills.

Yet this time they may well be right, but beyond speed, the fact is that conventional roads are much less safe. They have poorer visibility and maintenance that is, in many cases, frankly laughable.

In other words, this type of road is far less safe, and indeed it is on them that up to 90% of fatal accidents in our country are recorded over the course of a year.

This only shows that prevention and enforcement on the national roads should be far more thorough than on motorways, which are perfectly paved yet, unfortunately, still operate under outdated regulation, especially if we consider the quality of today’s vehicles and the condition of the roads.

We will see whether this measure, which is not free of controversy, results in fewer victims by the end of the year or, on the contrary, turns out to be a resounding mistake for the DGT.

We would love to see most of the money raised spent on maintaining conventional roads and on the stretches of our routes in poor condition. Many of them have gone years without the necessary reform, but of course, that is hardly a surprise…