Nationwide Inspection Campaign Launched
To enhance road safety, Spain’s General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), in partnership with the European Roads Policing Network (RoadPol), is conducting a special surveillance campaign nationwide from March 9th to 15th. The core objective of this initiative is to verify that drivers and passengers are using seat belts as required and that child passengers are correctly secured in child restraint systems (CRS). The goal is to raise public safety awareness through strengthened enforcement, thereby reducing preventable traffic injuries and fatalities.
Alarming Official Casualty Statistics
According to data from the DGT, the use of safety devices is directly linked to survival. In 2025, a total of 157 people on interurban roads in Spain died in traffic accidents because they were not using a seat belt or a child restraint system. Research proves that the seat belt is one of the most effective passenger protection measures available. In high-speed accidents or vehicle rollovers, using a seat belt can reduce the risk of death by 50% and the risk of serious injury by 77%. Even on urban roads, the probability of occupants wearing seat belts suffering serious or fatal injuries is five times lower than for those not wearing them.
Legal Regulations and Penalties
Spanish traffic law has clear and strict regulations regarding the use of safety devices. Not using a seat belt or a child restraint system as required is classified as a serious offense. If caught, violators face a €200 fine and a deduction of 4 points from their driving license. This penalty aims to remind all road users to always prioritize safety.
Child Passenger Safety Cannot Be Ignored
For the protection of child passengers, the regulations set even higher standards. All children with a height of 135 cm or less must use a child restraint system (CRS) appropriate for their height and weight when traveling in a private vehicle. Correctly installing and using a CRS can reduce the risk of death or serious injury for children in an accident by 55% to 60% and can prevent up to 90% of serious or fatal injuries. The DGT specifically reminds parents and guardians that incorrect use of a CRS significantly diminishes its protective effectiveness, or may even render it completely useless, making proper installation crucial.
The Safety Situation Across the EU
Looking at the entire European Union, the issue of seat belt use is equally severe. Statistical analysis from the European Road Safety Observatory (ERSO) indicates that in traffic fatalities across the EU, between 25% and 50% of the victims were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. More concerning is that the correct usage rate for child restraint systems is only between 20% and 50%. It is estimated that if the correct usage rate of safety devices across the EU could be increased to 99%, approximately 900 lives could be saved each year.
