The DGT has launched a special speed monitoring and control campaign in the Canary Islands, running from August 3rd to August 9th. This initiative, part of the European campaign by RoadPol (European Roads Policing Network), aims to decrease risk factors on roads and will involve the participation of the Guardia Civil, as well as regional and local police forces.
The campaign coincides with a period of high summer traffic, combining travel to holiday destinations with numerous short trips. Therefore, controls will be reinforced on conventional roads, motorways, dual carriageways, and urban streets, with a focus on sections where speed is a significant risk factor and accident concentration is high.
Inadequate speed continues to be a major issue for road safety. According to DGT data, speed was a determining factor in 307 fatal accidents in 2024 (22% of the total). The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) indicates that reducing the average speed by just 1 km/h could prevent over 2,200 annual fatalities in the European Union, while a 10 km/h increase raises the risk of a fatal accident by 220%.
Exceeding speed limits can result in fines ranging from 100 to 600 euros, in addition to the loss of up to 6 driving license points. General limits for cars and motorcycles are 120 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways, 90 km/h on conventional roads, 50 km/h on urban roads with two or more lanes per direction, 30 km/h on urban roads with a single lane per direction, and 20 km/h on single-platform streets. The DGT reminds that these are maximum limits and speed must always be adapted to the conditions.
The Criminal Code, in its article 379, establishes prison sentences or fines for those who drive at speeds significantly exceeding the regulatory limits on urban or interurban roads, in addition to the deprivation of the right to drive.
The DGT insists that respecting speed limits is crucial not only to avoid fines but, most importantly, to ensure road safety and reduce accidents.
