New record low in road fatalities

According to figures released by the Minister of the Interior, Jorge Fernández Díaz, and the Director General of Traffic, María Seguí last week, in the year just ended there have been 1,126 deaths from traffic accidents on urban roads in Spain, 6 fewer than in 2014

The minister said that Spain now has the fifth best road safety record in the EU along with Denmark and the United Kingdom and the figure represents the twelfth consecutive year that the country has achieved a reduction despite more than 14 million long-haul journeys, an increase of mobility of 4% over the previous year

During 2015, on interurban roads there have been 1,018 fatal accidents in which 1,126 people have died with an additional 4,843 requiring hospitalization for their injuries. The figures represent a 1% decrease (-6) in the number of deaths and 2% reduction (-105) in those admitted to hospital. Disappointingly, however, the number of accidents has actually increased by 3% (+34).

The death toll represents a record low since statistics first became available in 1960, when there were 1,300 deaths, however the scenario was quite different then, with just over one million vehicles on the roads, as compared to the 2015 figure in which the fleet exceeds 31 million.

The Director General said that the figures are only provisional, however, and refer only to fatal accidents on interurban roads which were recorded within 24 hours of the accident. The final and consolidated figures, which will take into consideration the victims who died within 30 days of accidents, on both urban and intercity roads, will be available in the coming months.

The figures show that Spain has a rate of 3.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants which is well below the average mortality rate in the EU of 5.1 per 100.000 inhabitants.

Drivers aged 65 years or over with 255 deaths accounted for 22% of the total, while in the age group 35-44 years, there were 211 deaths, 19% of the total, followed by those aged 45 to 54 years with 184 deaths 16% of the total.  Fatalities involving children up to 14 years of age were 20, 4 fewer than in 2014.

By sex there were far more male deaths than female. The proportion of males was 79%, an increase of 3% compared to 2014. For women, there was a 14% reduction over the previous year, with 38 fewer women killed.

22% of drivers and passengers killed in cars and vans in 2015 were not wearing a seatbelt.

Image:

The Minister iof the Interior, Jorge Fernández Díaz, with the Director General of Traffic, María Seguí, at the press conference.