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Date Published: 21/03/2022

ARCHIVED - What are the most common traffic offences in Alicante?

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

58.5% of fines issued in Alicante province are for speeding

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - What are the most common traffic offences in Alicante?

Spain's new Traffic, Motor Vehicle and Road Safety Act comes into force on Monday March 21, and whilst fines have not been increased, drivers in Alicante and the rest of the country can now lose more points from their licence.

According to a recent traffic report, the most common offence committed by motorists in Alicante province relates to speeding, followed by not having a valid ITV (Spanish equivalent to an MOT), lack of insurance, drink driving and using mobile phones whilst behind the wheel.

Between 2015 and 2020, of the total number of fines issued on the roads in the province, more than 510,000 (58.5%) were for exceeding legal speed limits.

And, the highest percentage of those speeding offences, 65%, were detected by fixed radars.

Researchers behind the report by Formaster, Professional Association of Training Companies in Logistics, Transport and Road Safety, warn that "this is a very worrying fact", as speeding is linked to a concerningly high accident rate on the roads.

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In the last six years, more than 140,000 fines have also been imposed for failing to pass an ITV test within the regulatory period; 16% of all the fines issued by traffic police.

"This is the second most inappropriate driving behaviour by drivers in Alicante. More than 480 fines were issued annually for tyre problems alone, which again is worrying as the poor condition of vehicles also has an impact on the accident rate on our roads," added the report.

For this reason, Formaster recommends a "scrupulous check-up", once a year or every 20,000 kilometres.

Other behaviour behind the wheel penalised in Alicante province since 2015 include: driving without insurance, which accounts for 4.2% of the fines; not wearing a seat belt (2.5%); using a mobile phone (2.1%); and reckless or negligent driving (1.3%).

With regards to alcohol and drug consumption, in recent years, an annual average of more than 3,650 traffic fines were imposed in Alicante; 2.5% of the total, a figure which Formaster considers "very high and concerning as driving under intoxicating substances is synonymous with accidents".

Click here for a full breakdown of the measures included in the long-awaited Traffic Law reform.

In light of the figures, the Professional Association of Training Companies in Logistics, Transport and Road Safety is calling for greater awareness campaigns to highlight the dangers of speeding and other punishable traffic offences.

At the same time, it welcomes "the new reform which establishes a framework to regulate Safe and Efficient Driving Courses". Drivers who complete the course will have additional points added to their licence.

"This is a very important aspect designed not only to improve road safety, but also to reduce the number of accidents and driving offences in general," added Formaster.

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