The operation is being carried out in three phases to coincide with the main public holidays (Christmas, New Year and Epiphany), the first two of which fall on the weekend this year.
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The aim of the operation is to ensure that people travelling by road reach their destinations and return without incident.
From 15:00 hours on Friday 23 December, the Directorate General of Traffic is launching the special regulation, organisation and monitoring of the 18.2 million road journeys expected to be made over the Christmas holidays, which will end on Sunday 8 January 2023.
As usual, different phases have been established to coincide with the main Christmas festivities, which this year also take place over the weekend.
1st phase, Christmas: From Friday 23 to Monday 26 December in the regions of Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla la Mancha, Castilla y León, Extremadura, Balearic Islands, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre and La Rioja, as Monday 26 is a public holiday. In the regions that do not move the holiday to Monday, the system will end on Sunday 25. 4.4 million journeys are expected to be made during this first period.
2nd phase, New Year’s Eve: Friday 30 December to Sunday 1 January, except in the regions of Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Castile and Leon and Murcia, where it will be extended to Monday 2 January as it is a public holiday in those regions.
3rd phase, Epiphany: From Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 January, when the special Christmas arrangements will come to an end.
Many of the journeys, both long and short distances, will be to second homes, mountain areas for winter sports, winter and Christmas tourist attractions, as well as shopping areas.
A SINGLE OBJECTIVE: TO RETURN
The aim of the plan is to ensure that people travelling by road reach their destinations and return without incident.
To this end, the DGT has the maximum availability of human resources (Agents of the Traffic Grouping of the Civil Guard, civil servants from the Traffic Management Centres, helicopter patrols and personnel in charge of equipment maintenance and the installation of roadside measures) which, among other functions, will be responsible for:
Facilitate the mobility and fluidity of traffic, as well as ensure road safety on the roads.
Maintain road safety conditions for all types of vehicles on roads with sections or areas affected by adverse weather conditions such as snow, ice, fog, rain and wind.
To help users in the event of any incident or unforeseen event that may arise during their journey and to monitor the correct behaviour of road users with the human and technical resources available to the organisation: 780 fixed radars (92 of which are stretch radars) and 545 mobile speed cameras, in addition to 13 helicopters, 39 drones, 245 cameras and 15 camouflaged vans to monitor the use of mobile phones and seat belts.
To provide timely information on any incident on the road through traffic news bulletins on the various radio and television stations, on the website www.dgt.es mapamovilidad.dgt.es, on Twitter @DGTes and @InformacionDGT and on the 011 telephone number. Likewise, disseminate advice related to safe and responsible mobility.
Intensify speed and alcohol controls as a means of preventing road accidents.
The complete plan can be consulted on the DGT website traffic recommendations, a document where you can find traffic forecasts, the most unfavourable times for travelling, historical maps, road safety advice and rules, traffic regulation and organisation measures and the traffic operation by Autonomous Community.
PUTTING WHAT YOU KNOW INTO PRACTICE TO AVOID UNNECESSARY SUFFERING
Citizens know the importance of complying with traffic regulations, that driving is an activity which requires the utmost attention, that alcohol and drugs are incompatible with driving and that wearing a seat belt saves lives…, but what many drivers do not realise is that road accidents do not always happen to others and that in a matter of seconds the life of any person can change.