A new special speed control campaign was initiated by the Spanish Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) in the province of Alicante yesterday, Monday April 13th. The campaign is being conducted in collaboration with local police forces and involves 300 officers from the Traffic Group of the Guardi Civil. The operation will be conducted from April 13th to 19th and will concentrate on the most hazardous intercity roads and sections.
The objective of this initiative is to mitigate the number of road accidents in a province where the most severe accidents are still significantly influenced by speed. Manuel Pineda, the Deputy Government Delegate in Alicante, has cautioned that this factor “remains one of the most decisive in fatal accidents.” Consequently, he believes that it is imperative to enhance both enforcement and motorist awareness.
This concern is evident in the data that the Administration manages. In 2025, 8 of the 38 fatal incidents that were recorded on intercity roads in the province were caused by inappropriate or excessive speed, which accounts for 21% of the total. This factor was present in 2 of the 11 fatal accidents that were recorded on these categories of roads during the first quarter of 2026, which is equivalent to 18% of the cases.
Pineda underscored that accidents can be significantly impacted by even a minor decrease in speed. In this regard, he invoked the notion that “every kilometre per hour counts and can mean the difference between life and death,” while simultaneously encouraging drivers to adhere to speed limits.
The most recent campaign
In August 2025, the most recent speed enforcement campaign in Alicante concluded with the inspection of 21,237 vehicles, of which 1,261 were cited. This implies that 5.94% of the drivers who were examined were exceeding the speed limit.
Penalties for these categories of infractions also account for a substantial portion of all traffic fines. In 2025, a total of 30,855 drivers were penalised in the province for speeding, resulting in 33,393 citations and 85,360 points deducted. Speeding violations that resulted in points deductions accounted for 65% of all penalties involving points in the first quarter of 2026.
The campaign, therefore, aims to not only enhance surveillance for a week, but also to convey a clear message regarding one of the most prevalent hazardous behaviours on the road: driving at a speed that is either inappropriate for the road conditions or exceeds the permitted limit. The Traffic Department maintains that reducing pace is one of the most effective measures for saving lives in a province with a high volume of traffic and numerous intercity journeys.
In the European Union’s Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030, it is estimated that approximately one-third of fatal incidents are caused by excessive or inappropriate speed, either partially or exclusively. Additionally, research conducted by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) suggests that drivers who exceed the speed limit are at a risk of an accident that is up to 12.8 times greater.
Additionally, a mere 1 km/h decrease in driving speed could avert over 2,200 fatalities annually on European roadways.
The data also illustrates the direct correlation between speed and pedestrian accidents. It is nearly impossible for a pedestrian to survive at speeds exceeding 80 km/h, while the risk of mortality is reduced to 5% at 30 km/h.
“Human lives are concealed beneath each statistic.” Pineda further stated, “That is why we urge all motorists to adhere to speed limits.”
