As we all know, for several months we cannot exceed the speed limit of the road to overtake due to the reform of the Traffic Law. Previously it was allowed to exceed 20 km/h in overtaking on conventional roads, but the DGT has an intense fight against the speed that this measure took away. This change was harshly criticized by many groups, including RACE, for obvious reasons. Now a review is requested to recover that margin by coming forward with supporting data.
There are several associations that have come together to eliminate this measure after after it has increased number of deaths on conventional roads. According to the Road Safety balance of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) there is a 5% more victims, which also joins the rise of 3% on motorways and dual carriageways (compared to 2019). The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, recalled that the measure entered into force in March and that there are still two months left to make a full annual assessment.
From Associated European Motorists (AEA) it was stressed that it is a significant increase in mortality, it was added that “the elimination of the 20 km/h margin in overtaking could have had a negative effect for road safety. The Biker Platform for Road Safety and other user associations, accident victims and experts also joined. The 14% overall increase in claims on roads that was experienced in 2022 (compared to 2021) is very significant and forces the authorities to review the measures to reverse this trend.
It is pointed out that the tightening of sanctions may not be the way, that other measures should be adopted to rejuvenate the fleet with safer cars and also improve roads. Measures such as the elimination of the limit of 20 additional km/h to overtake do not seem to have worked and neither did awareness, since many of the victims did not use the restraint systems. The education is a key factor to reduce these figures, which have only been positive for the group of motorcyclists, one of the most vulnerable, which has reduced the number of victims.
Source: Europa Press
