Self-centered and self-interested behavior dominates on the roads, as declared by Pere Navarro, the head of the DGT.
In an interview on Las Mañanas de RNE, Pere Navarro, director general of the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), discussed measures aimed at reducing traffic congestion and accidents in Spain.
According to Navarro, historic congestion issues are no longer present due to paced departures, and trip planning is crucial for avoiding peak traffic times and congested routes. He emphasized that reducing speed, proper trip planning, and addressing mobile phone distraction can significantly improve road safety and traffic flow.
Navarro also highlighted the danger posed by mobile phones to road safety and suggested moving goods from the road to the railway as a measure to reduce traffic accidents. The special operation of the DGT is currently underway as of August 1st, with initiatives like Madrid's low-emissions zone prioritizing cleaner, more efficient urban mobility.
The director urged drivers not to take unnecessary risks that could lead to arriving earlier and emphasized that if someone with you drinks, it's your responsibility to ensure they don't drive. He also called on listeners of RNE to become examiners due to increasing demand and a shortage of professional drivers, with recruitment efforts being made from Latin America.
In addition, Navarro stated that distraction is the main cause of road accidents, and he called attention to the fact that alcohol is present in 30% to 50% of fatal accidents. Exceeding the alcohol limit and refusing to take a breathalyzer test are traffic offenses that add up to prison time.
With these measures in place, the number of vehicles on the road will be reduced, encouraging safer driving behaviors, and shifting freight to less congested and often safer railway systems. This, in turn, will help reduce congestion and accidents in Spain.
Sources: [1] [News Article 1] [2] [News Article 2] [3] [News Article 3]
- The DGT's special operation, commencing on August 1st, also includes a focus on addressing mobile phone distraction in regard to health-and-wellness and mental-health concerns within the science industry.
- The reduction in car-accidents due to measures such as paced departures and avoidance of peak traffic times is expected to lead to cost savings in finance and general-news sections, as fewer accidents mean less expenditure on insurance and medical care.
- To further improve road safety, Navarro suggested that the transportation industry consider optimizing freight and cargo transportation from vehicles to railway systems, as a means of enhancing the fitness-and-exercise routines of citizens by reducing exposure to congestion and accidents.
- The average span of time spent in traffic congestion may seem minuscule when compared to the potentially devastating impact of a car-accident, and Navarro is advocating that preventative measures such as avoiding phone usage while driving be treated with the same urgency as in the fitness-and-exercise and mental-health industries.
- In the interest of public safety and efficient resource allocation, it is essential to expand the pool of professional drivers by encouraging listeners of RNE to become examiners in the finance industry, particularly in light of increasing demand and a shortage of qualified personnel, even beyond Spain's borders in Latin America.
