The summer period leaves a slight increase in deaths caused by road accidents compared to last year. While in July and August 2023, the months taken into account, have died 234 people, at that same time in 2022 there were 227. A 3% increase.
These deaths have occurred in 223 fatal accidents. A very low figure if one takes into account that during the summer there have been just over 93 million trips, as reflected in the Balance of road accidents summer 2023. In said time space, and by a slight difference, August has been the month where the most displacements have occurred (47.9 million). In July there were 45.8 million.
With respect to the characteristics of the accident rate, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has indicated an increase in deaths on highways and dual carriageways compared to last year. If in July and August 2022 there were 50 deaths, in 2023 there have been 67. The rest have occurred on interurban roads, where they have been reduced (167 in the summer of 2023 by 177 in the summer of 2022).
In a presentation where the acting Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has participated, the report has indicated that tourism has been the means in which the most people have died (112). This has also meant a growth of nine individuals compared to 2022. For its part, motorcycle accidents have decreasedsince they have gone from 60 to 57. In this sense, the profile of the deceased motorist continues to be a man with driving experience between 35 and 64 years of age who has an accident on a weekend.
Regarding the profile of fatalities, the majority are men, who represent a 75% (176)for 25% women (58). With respect to them, an increase of 25% has been generated if one looks at the figures of the previous summer, where there were 43 deaths on the road. Within the sociological aspect, the age group that records the highest number of deaths is that of 45 to 54 years, with 51 cases. On the contrary, it is in the 35 to 44 age range where it decreases the most: 16 less.