More than half of the fatalities belong to vulnerable groups, including six motorcyclists, one cyclist, and five pedestrians. The distribution of deaths by island shows 12 in Tenerife, nine in Gran Canaria, one in Fuerteventura, and one in La Gomera, the latter occurring after a bus veered off the road and overturned.
Regarding injuries, some of which are critical, 68 motorcyclists were involved in falls or collisions, at least 37 pedestrians were hit, 14 cyclists were involved in accidents, and two users of Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMVs). Additionally, over 20 people were injured in the bus incident in La Gomera.
“"Education and training are fundamental, with awareness campaigns based on good pedagogy, along with adequate supervision and police surveillance."
The organization indicates that these accidents occur on various types of roads, from highways and urban areas to, in a recent instance, a forest track in Gran Canaria. These figures are provisional, gathered by AIPSEV from sources such as the DGT, 1-1-2 Canarias, the Lanzarote Emergency Consortium, and Local Police forces, and tend to increase in subsequent days, according to the European Transport Council.
The most frequent causes, according to the DGT, include distractions (especially mobile phone use), speeding, and the consumption of alcohol or drugs. A recent study suggests that one in six deceased drivers and one in ten pedestrians had consumed drugs before their accidents. However, some users also point to the poor condition of certain roads, exacerbated by recent rains, and mechanical failures.
In light of this situation, AIPSEV emphasizes the need to strengthen road safety education and training. The association notes with regret that the beginning of the May long weekend, a period of high mobility, typically sees an increase in road accidents, particularly on conventional roads. Therefore, they highlight the DGT's deployment of technical control and sanctioning measures to detect risky behaviors.
