Using a cell phone while driving is the main cause of distracted driving on Andalusian roads. This is the main conclusion of the special monitoring campaign carried out by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) during the period from October 7 to 16, in order to identify the potential causes of road accidents in the region.
The operation captured 172,643 vehicles through the receptors and agents of Local police strategically located at municipal road points.
Of this total, 850 complaints concerned the integration of mobile phones into driving, a practice clearly prohibited, especially since the law came into force. new highway code.
The implementation of this legal framework in March 2022 for example provides for sanctions in the event of holding the telephone in the hands – whether it is used or not – or handling it in its holder. The driver will face a fine of 200 euros and will lose six or three points depending on the case.
Despite everything, five complaints out of ten were motivated by this problem which, far from raising awareness, reflects a progressive trend, since the data is a top 12 percent to that recorded during the 2023 campaign, without going any further, 48.9 percent of the accused had their cell phone in hand when they passed the DGT inspection.
This figure of 850 is particularly interesting considering that the total number of complaints filed during the distracted driving monitoring campaign was 1,724 complaints. In other words, almost half of them were due to an addiction to mobile technology.
Other risky behaviors
It is true that this is not the only action which presents a danger for car driving and for the rest of those involved in road safety and which could be identified during the recent campaign. As crazy as it may seem, a significant number of motorists were traveling without the seat belt properly fastened. 6.5 percent, or 112 people, tried to avoid the fine by wearing their seat belts before passing the officers. They were also captured.
The issue of seat belts is particularly embarrassing when it comes to children, since several cases have been detected in which they were traveling without seat belts. Child restraint system appropriate.
Another 5.7 percent of drivers broke the law by using navigation systems or wearing headphones connected to audio players. There were a hundred of them.
Alcohol and drugs
The distraction monitoring campaign has once again certified the high presence of alcohol and drugs on the road. 10.1% They exceeded the permitted ethyl level and 9.7% showed signs of drug use. As if that wasn’t enough, they committed other distractions while driving. This is a set of 344 complaints.
Finally, 5.4 percent of cases opened sanctioned the act of smoke, eat, read or experience distractions from other vehicle occupants.
“Distracted driving is the leading cause of fatal road accidents. In 2023, in Spain, this factor is present in 30% of fatal accidents, with 409 fatal accidents following distraction,” recalls the DGT.
