More than 8.5 million road trips expected this long weekend

As the penultimate operation of the summer season is launched on the road network this weekend, the DGT expects more than 8.5 million road trips as those who have been on holiday on the coast return inland, meeting the last main batch of holidaymakers travelling to the coast, all mixing with the usual summer weekend traffic, all complicated by the fact Tuesday is a national holiday, thus extending the weekend for many.

The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) launches this Special Operation from 3:00 p.m. on Friday, through the weekend, and including the “bridge” to conclude on Tuesday 15 August as midnight.

In these 5 days, Traffic forecasts that there will be 8,550,000 movements, both long and short-haul. During this long weekend, in addition to the departure and return trips due to the change of fortnight, they will join those made to coastal towns and beaches or areas of second residence because it is a few days of leisure and rest at the end of week within the typically holiday month, which is August.

In addition, this weekend festivities are held in a large number of towns in the national territory, so short-distance trips will also increase to travel to them, both on the main road network and on secondary roads, especially in the nights and early mornings of these days of Special Operation.

For this reason, Traffic urges drivers to take extreme road safety measures and, especially, not to drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. For this reason, the preventive measures of speed, alcohol and drug control will be intensified by the agents of the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil, also coinciding the operation with the special campaign of surveillance and control of alcohol and drugs that, both the agents of the Guardia Civil, as well as the Local Police, will carry out from Monday the 14th, with the aim of raising awareness about the risk posed by the sum of alcohol and/or drug use and driving.

For all of us to enjoy these days of leisure and rest, it is important to insist that alcohol and drugs can never go hand in hand with driving any type of vehicle.

Special Measures

To provide coverage for this operation and ensure that all planned movements are safe, Tráfico has established a series of traffic regulation, management and surveillance measures for which it has the maximum availability of its human resources: agents from the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil, civil servants from the 8 Traffic Management Centres and personnel in charge of maintaining equipment and installing road measures, in addition to personnel from the emergency services.

Regarding material resources, the DGT has 780 fixed speed control radars, of which 92 are section, 545 mobile radars that can be embarked on vehicles of the Guardia Civil, 245 cameras and 15 Camouflaged vans to control the use of mobile phones and seat belts. The DGT also has helicopters and drones for surveillance from the air and unmarked vehicles and motorcycles that will circulate on all types of roads in order to verify the correct behaviour of drivers while driving.

In order to favour circulation in the most conflictive areas, reversible and additional lanes with cones will be installed in the hours of greatest traffic flow and alternative itineraries will be established. Likewise, works on the highways will be stopped, the holding of sports events and other events that involve the occupation of the road will be limited, and the circulation of merchandise trucks in general and those that transport certain merchandise will be restricted in certain sections, dates and hours.

Avoid the Busiest Hours

The traffic forecasts prepared by the DGT contemplate that on Friday afternoon, mainly between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., there will be significant movements of vehicles that will cause high intensities and traffic problems at the exits of large cities, as well as in the main communication routes of access to the tourist areas of the coast, second residence and populations in festivals.

On Saturday morning (from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) the intense traffic leaving urban centres will continue, as well as in destination areas late in the morning, which will be added to the usual short-distance access to beaches and for the festivities in numerous populations throughout the national geography.

On Sunday the 13th, the morning accesses to the coast and the roads that connect coastal towns with access to beaches will be conflictive, as well as the accesses of the large urban centres in local movements and short-distance routes to leisure, recreation and recreation close to them, making their return late in the evening. In the afternoon, especially between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., the return of those who have enjoyed this summer weekend will begin, this being with less traffic intensity than other Sundays in summer because Tuesday the 15th is a holiday throughout Spain.

Monday will be the quietest day of this special operation, with the usual movements in and out of large urban centres taking place as it is a working day. In the morning, the access roads to the coast and those that connect coastal towns with access to beaches will also be conflictive and, in the afternoon, movements will be observed leaving the large urban centres because the next day is a holiday and also because of the change fortnight vacation.

On Tuesday the 15th in the morning, there may be traffic problems at the accesses to the coast and on the roads that connect coastal towns with access to the beaches, and in the afternoon (from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) the return of those who are ending their days will begin and problems may arise in the main communication road axes that channel all the return movement from the tourist areas of the coast, rest and second residences towards the accesses of the large urban centres.

Always Drive Responsibly

When traveling to fiesta towns, whether during the day or at night, never let your guard down even if it is short journeys, wear your seat belt, respect speed limits and road signs.

When going to make the trip to or from towns, if alcohol has been ingested, do not look for excuses to drive even if the maximum allowed has not been reached. It is better to let someone who has not drunk drive, consider the possibility of using public transport or even rest and spend the night at the destination, in hostels, hotels, etc., or in your own car until you can make the trip in the better driving conditions.

On long journeys, make sure that the vehicle is in optimal condition, checking, at least, the lighting, the state of the brakes and the tyres.

Plan the trip by the safest route and avoiding the most conflictive hours to avoid unforeseen events. The twitter accounts @informacionDGT and @DGTes or the news bulletins on radio and television, as well as on the 011 telephone, provide information on the traffic situation in real time and any incidents that may exist. You can also check the traffic situation on the DGT website, updated in real time.

Take breaks every two hours. Fatigue and sleepiness while driving are potentially deadly.

Last Updated on 10/08/2023 by Mark Nolan

The post More than 8.5 million road trips expected this long weekend first appeared on N332.es – Driving In Spain.