Torre Pacheco Council has completed the first phase of eleven smart pedestrian crossings in several busy streets across the town centre. The project forms part of the European-funded Pasos hacia el Futuro scheme and has required an investment of €29,000 from the NextGeneration programme under the national Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. The initiative aims to strengthen road safety in areas with high footfall, particularly for older pedestrians, who are statistically the most at risk of accidents.

Each crossing is equipped with presence sensors, illuminated vertical signage and LED‑lit paving tiles embedded in the ground. The system activates lighting automatically when it detects someone approaching, improving visibility for drivers and pedestrians without the need for push buttons or other manual intervention. Sensors also differentiate between daylight and night-time conditions, adjusting brightness levels to maintain safety while reducing energy consumption.

Mayor Pedro Ángel Roca says the technology is designed to tackle speeding and distraction, supporting safer travel for residents in a practical and accessible way. The locations were selected based on technical criteria such as traffic levels, pedestrian flow and proximity to schools or sensitive sites.

The new crossings are now operating in streets including Víctor Pérez, Doctor Lino León Martínez, Pedro López, Cartagena, Carta, Emilio Zurano and Pedro León Garre, as well as Avenida de Europa. Additional phases of the project will focus on digitalising public transport, improving urban spaces and gathering mobility data through environmental and traffic sensors linked to the municipal digital platform.