The Spanish Traffic Department has made public the position of 1 700 radar speed traps that will be active during August (dgt.es). This measure is part of a specific campaign to control speeding, an important factor in the cause of accidents. In August 2003 the speed of 1 230 000 vehicles was monitored, of which 35 795 of these (6.91%) were fined as they exceeded the permitted legal limits.

With this operation in 2004 the aim is to check, at least 10% of the vehicles that are travelling long distances on the Spanish highways, until the number reaches 2.5 million vehicles monitored. During August last year 465 people died in road accidents. Approximately 20% of those accidents involved inadequate speeds as an important cause.

Moreover, Traffic has offered data relating to July. To be specific up to the 28th there were 273 fatal accidents recorded on the roads. In these 327 people were killed and another 307 were injured. Compared to the same period last year, up to this date, there were 28 fewer deaths, which is a reduction of 8%.