Speed-control technology could become compulsory in Spanish cars

Leader of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), Pere Navarro believes that the system preventing a car from travelling above the speed limit – a device that already exists – could prevent up to 400 fatalities a year by cutting serious accidents by at least 20%.

But whether or not this technology becomes compulsory for new vehicles, Navarro says it is 'probably a good idea' to review and increase the number of speed limit signs, since it is not always clear what the permitted maximum is.

The 'smart-speed' system, according to the DGT boss, was the subject of a research project in Norway in 2014 and found to be the 'most efficient' at saving lives.

In fact, it could be the 'most important feature, after the air-bag' at doing so, Navarro believes.

He says road crash deaths have been steadily climbing in Spain for the last four years, and reveals that 77% of fatalities happen on secondary highways rather than motorways.

Of all deaths recorded, 36% are caused by the car veering off the road and 28% by head-on smashes – and even where the proximate cause of these are alcohol, drugs, fatigue or distraction, the speed of the vehicles involved makes a difference as to the outcome.

“The faster the cars are travelling, the worse the accident tends to be,” Navarro points out.

These observations were made during the MAPFRE Foundation's latest road safety conference, jointly organised by the European Council for Transport Safety and the DGT.

Head of Accident Prevention and Road Safety at high-street insurance company MAPFRE, Jesús Monclús says the 'smart-speed' system reads the limit signs on roads and adjusts the car's speed accordingly if it is travelling faster than this, as well as preventing the vehicle from getting too close to the one in front – even activating the brake if necessary.

Navarro's idea of making the system compulsory in newly-registered vehicles comes after he released data on this summer's fatal accidents – over the busier traffic months of July and August, a total of 259 people were killed on Spain's roads, a 15% hike on the same period in 2017.

Speeding drivers played a large part in these tragic statistics, Navarro reveals.