Last year, 2013, a total of 1,128 people died on the roads of Spain, 173 less than in 2012, representing a decrease of 13.3%. The figure is even lower than 1960, the first year in which statistics began, and is also the tenth consecutive year of declines in road based fatalities.
During the year 2013, there were 994 fatal accidents on interurban roads, the first time ever the figure was below 1,000, although this did result in a total of 1,128 losing their lives and 5,206 being seriously injured. In percentage terms, the number of accidents has dropped by 16%, fatalities by 13.3% and serious injuries have also dropped by 16%.
However, it should be noted that the figures are provisional as they only relate only to the fatal accidents on interurban roads up to 24 hours after the accident. The final figures take into account fatalities that have also occurred within 30 days of the accidents, which take longer to compile, but are not normally significantly different.
The number of road accidents is also down for the tenth consecutive year. In 2013 there have been 2,865 fewer deaths than in 2003, during which 3,993 people were killed, representing a cumulative reduction of 72%. This decline of fatalities is also reflected in the daily death toll, which has fallen from 11.6 road deaths per day in 2000, to 3.1 deaths per day on average in 2013.
The death toll recorded in 2013 is lower than the first year of records, 1960 when 1,300 people were killed, but this is more significant when we consider that in 1960 there were just 1 million vehicles on the road, compared to 31 million today.
During 2013 there were also 29 days in which there were no fatalities recorded, 6 of these days being in March, 5 in May, 4 in December and 3 in June and July. In 2012 there were 19 days when no fatalities, 15 in 2011 and 4 in 2010.
By gender, the majority of fatalities on the roads are men, accounting for 77% of the overall death toll. As for age groups, those over the age of 65 seem the most at risk, with an increase of 9% within this group, whereas all other have fallen. The biggest decline in age group fatalities was in the 35 to 44 years of age bracket, with a 25% reduction, followed by the 15 to 24 year olds, declining by 20%.
However, despite showing the biggest drop in fatalities, the 35 to 44 year old group still dominates the most critical age bracket, with 199 deaths last year, representing 18%of the total deaths.
Conventional roads are still the locations for the highest number of traffic accidents, with 898 people killed on these roads, representing a decrease of 12% compared to 2012. On the motorway network there were 178 deaths, a decline of 19% and on toll motorways there 52 deaths.
Fatalities relating to car users fell by 18% over the previous year. Van users also declined, along with cyclists and moped riders, but motorbike fatalities increased from 186 deaths to 188, as did pedestrian fatalities, increasing from 132 to 138.
In total, 21% of drivers and passengers killed in cars and vans in 2013 were not wearing seatbelts. Comparing this last figure with 2012, this percentage was 25% and 38% in 2004. There were also 23 children under 12 years of age killed, 6 of whom were not using any kind of safety restraint.
Of the 188 killed in motorbike riders killed, 8 were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, neither did 6 of the moped riders and of the 36 cyclist who were killed, 10 of them were not using a helmet, despite being mandatory on interurban roads.
Collectively, not using mandatory safety equipment is seen as a contributing factor in 161 deaths on the roads during 2013.
Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/42122/
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