The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) is launching “Special Operation 1st August” at 3pm on Wednesday 31st July, with the aim of covering the 3.1 million road movements expected by midnight on Thursday 1st August.
For the entire month of August, the most important month in terms of vehicle movements in the summer of 2024, 48,324,000 journeys are expected to be made on Spanish roads.
These days there will be a significant movement of vehicles on all roads across the country due to the start of the August holiday month. There will also be an increase in movements on the weekend after these dates, due to the return and start of the summer months of July and August, respectively.
During this period, vehicle movements generated by the beginning of the August holiday month will coincide with long-distance journeys out of large urban centres and main destinations in coastal and coastal tourist areas, together with the return of those who finish their holidays in July.
Likewise, during the days in which this Special Operation “August 1 – 2024” is taking place, the influx of both Portuguese and Maghrebian vehicles will continue, the latter towards the border posts of their countries of origin in the entry direction (north-south), within the 1st phase of Operation Crossing the Strait-2024.
In order to safeguard the safety of all road users, the operation has the full availability of the resources, both human (agents from the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil, personnel from the Traffic Management Centres, helicopter patrols and personnel in charge of equipment maintenance and the installation of measures on the road), and technical (fixed and mobile speed control radars, as well as helicopters, drones, cameras and camouflaged vans to control the use of mobile phones and seat belts) available to the DGT.
To facilitate traffic in the most problematic areas, measures will be adopted such as the installation of reversible and additional lanes with cones and markings during peak traffic hours and the establishment of alternative routes.
In addition, road works will be halted, sporting events and other events that involve the occupation of the roadway will be limited, and the circulation of trucks transporting dangerous goods in general will be restricted, as well as the circulation of trucks and special transports in certain sections, dates and times.
The complete device can be consulted at https://www.dgt.es/conoce-el-estado-del-trafico/recomendaciones-de-trafico/ .
Traffic forecasts and measures
Traffic forecasts prepared by the Traffic Department indicate that, from early afternoon on Wednesday 31st, mainly between 4pm and 11pm, there will be significant long-distance vehicle movements, causing high intensities and traffic problems on the way out of large urban centres and also on the main access routes to coastal tourist and leisure areas, with these becoming more pronounced as the afternoon progresses and, in the late afternoon-evening, in the destination areas.
In the afternoon, there will also be movements returning to the large urban centres, of a smaller magnitude than those leaving, of those who finish their holidays in July and did not return during the weekend preceding this Wednesday.
These movements in the outbound and inbound directions will be joined by the usual movements in and out of towns as it is a working day.
On the other hand, from early in the morning on Thursday 1 August, especially between 9am and 2pm, there will be significant vehicle movements causing traffic problems and delays on the way out of large urban centres and also on the main communication routes towards the coastal tourist and leisure areas, which will become more pronounced as the morning progresses, and will then be placed in the destination areas by late afternoon/evening.
As on the previous day, these movements will be joined by the usual ones for accessing towns as it is a working day.
Caution on night trips
Some drivers, following the recommendations of the Traffic Department to avoid days of mass displacements and the most unfavourable hours, decide to undertake the trip at night, for which it is necessary to take a series of precautions that allow the trip to be made in the best conditions of Road Safety, since night driving, due to the fact that it requires greater concentration on driving to be able to see the surface illuminated by the vehicle, as well as not being accustomed to it, produces greater fatigue, tension and stress.
For this reason, the DGT recommends:
Before night driving:
- Carefully plan your nighttime itinerary.
- Have the vehicle in good condition and prepared, checking the correct operation of the lights and turn signals.
- Clean the glass of: headlights and turn signals, windshield, side windows and rear window.
- Get enough rest before setting off on your journey.
- Have a light dinner.
- Refrain from taking alcohol and medications that are incompatible with driving.
During night driving:
- Reduce your speed by approximately 20% of the permitted speed, since when driving with dipped headlights, the area illuminated by the headlights may be much shorter than the stopping distance.
- Use dipped headlights when crossing paths with another vehicle. If you are blinded, use the line on the right side of the road as a guide.
- If you need to stop on the road, look for a straight stretch of road with good visibility, using your turn signals and using the V-16 hazard warning light or the emergency triangles. Be careful when getting out of the driver’s seat, and avoid having rear seat passengers get out of the vehicle through the left door, doing so through the right door.
- Air out the vehicle, directing the air outlet from inside the vehicle towards the body and arms, never towards the eyes.
- Pay close attention at night when it rains, as mud and dust quickly accumulate on the vehicle’s headlights and turn signals, reducing visibility by up to 50%. Stop often to clean them.
- Stop every two hours or whenever you notice fatigue or drowsiness, doing breathing exercises or walking, to regain the necessary ability to drive. On very hot nights, make more frequent stops to hydrate, since the heat at night causes greater fatigue when driving.
Warning signs
It is important for every driver to identify the symptoms of fatigue that should alert them to a situation of fatigue while driving and thus avoid an accident. These signs can manifest themselves in the following ways:
- Drowsiness.
- Headache, neck, back or leg pain.
- Itchy eyes, blinking or constantly rubbing them with your hands.
- Continuous change of position in the driver’s seat.
- Feeling of being very hot, thirsty or sweaty in the hands.
- Increased consumption of cigarettes, candy or sweets.
As always, the DGT recommends planning your travel plan in advance, and it is advisable to carry out a complete tune-up of the vehicle.
During your journey, you can keep up to date with the traffic situation in real time, as well as any incidents that may occur, on the Twitter accounts @informacionDGT and @DGTes , in the news bulletins on radio and television and by calling 011.
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