The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) and the Guardia Civil have announced enhanced road safety measures in response to the recent increase in traffic accidents in the Canary Islands. In 2024 alone, the archipelago has had 14 traffic-related fatalities, with seven in Las Palmas and seven in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with a particularly noticeable spike from early April to mid-May.
This announcement was made during a press conference by Anselmo Pestana, the Government Delegate in the Canary Islands; DGT Coordinator, Eva Canitrot; and Lieutenant Colonel Jesús Ángel Hernández, Chief of the Guardia Civil Traffic Police (ATGC) in the Canary Islands. The primary goal of the meeting was to introduce a series of measures aimed at reducing the number and severity of traffic accidents in the region.
There will be a bigger presence of Guardia Civil Traffic Police on motorcycles on the roads. Service orders across all ATGC sectors will be updated based on the DGT's "Framework Instruction for Surveillance."
Fixed speed control points, including section radars, will be installed. There will also be an increase in alcohol and drug tests, along with intensified control and surveillance campaigns aimed at motorcyclists.
The DGT will work closely with road owners to identify and improve safety on specific road sections through infrastructure measures. Collaboration with local municipalities and their police forces will be strengthened to reduce urban road accidents.
Efforts to raise awareness about road safety issues will be boosted, involving the Provincial Traffic and Road Safety Commissions. This includes participation from various public administrations and the distribution of targeted safety messages to specific age groups and areas with high accident rates.
All of these proposed measures are in line with the broader safety initiatives presented by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, on April 26th in Madrid. Pestana emphasised the fundamental role of the state in ensuring the safety of its citizens, noting, “The Government of Spain remains steadfast in its efforts to enhance road safety and minimize traffic-related fatalities, which is also a part of defending the right to life and physical integrity as protected by Article 15 of our Constitution.”
He further highlighted the active role played by the DGT and police forces, particularly the Guardia Civil and its Traffic Department, in maintaining road safety. Their commitment is evident through their daily work and ongoing efforts to supervise and study new measures for safer road mobility.
