The DGT launches a special campaign to monitor distractions while driving across Spain, which will extend until October 11. Agents of the Civil Guard and local police, including those in Málaga, will monitor mobile phone use and other risky behaviours.
The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has activated a special campaign to monitor distractions while driving that will last until October 11 on all Spanish roads. During that week, agents from the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard and local police who join the initiative will monitor both interurban and urban roads, as reported by Diario Sur.
Distractions are the most common concurrent factor in traffic accidents. According to DGT data, they account for 15,707 cases, which is 21% of the total, a percentage that rises to 32% when it comes to accidents with fatalities. For this reason, agents will intensively monitor mobile phone use, interaction with passengers, eating while driving, or adjusting vehicle systems, among other behaviours.
Alongside roadside monitoring, the DGT will deploy its automated means, such as cameras installed on roads, which allow verification if the driver is using their mobile phone while driving. The campaign is part of the European operation Focus on the Road, developed by the RoadPol (European Roads Policing Network).
Volunteers from the National Federation of Spinal Cord Injured and Other Physical Disabilities (ASPAYM) will assist in controls across several provinces, including Málaga. These volunteers, who have been collaborating with the DGT since 2007, will accompany agents to convey the message of the importance of reducing high-risk behaviours and to show the consequences and irreversible effects of traffic accidents.
"The aim is to help convey the message of the importance of reducing user behaviours that involve high-risk actions"
Distraction while driving can be visual, auditory, physical, or cognitive. The mobile phone is one of the most common sources: self-reported prevalence in 22 European countries is 51% for hands-free devices, 22% for conversations with the phone in hand, and 23% for reading messages or checking social media.
The campaign will remain active until Sunday October 11 in all Spanish provinces, with special emphasis on the sections with the highest accident rates.
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