According to the provisional balance released by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Spain experienced two hundred and twenty-eight fatalities on its roads during this summer, marking a six per cent decrease from the previous year. Notably, this period witnessed a historic record in road movements, surpassing one hundred million for the first time. Despite the decrease, there remains a critical concern regarding the high number of fatalities among motorcyclists and the continued impact of substance abuse on road safety.

The report indicates that nearly fifty per cent of the autopsies conducted on the victims revealed the presence of alcohol, drugs, or psychoactive substances. Minister Marlaska expressed a strong hope for the introduction of a new legislation to mandate a blood alcohol level of zero point two per cent for drivers, emphasising the issue as essential for public health and safety. Furthermore, it was highlighted that a significant percentage of the deceased, twenty-seven per cent, were not using seat belts at the time of the accidents.

The summer also saw varying patterns in traffic volumes, with August reporting the highest number of movements at fifty-two million, an increase of two point seventy-eight per cent over the previous year. In contrast, July recorded forty-eight point five million movements. The day with the most movements was Friday, the first of August, with two million trips.

Additionally, while there was a reduction in fatalities among vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, the data also reflected a significant occurrence of road accidents, with making up forty-three per cent of total fatalities. Andalusia was identified as the region with the highest number of casualties, highlighting the need for ongoing attentiveness to road safety measures amid increased travel.