Spain ended 2025 with 1,119 fatalities in traffic accidents on interurban roads, according to provisional road safety figures released by the Ministry of the Interior. While the data show a moderate decline compared to the previous year, the number of deaths remains a major social concern.
Throughout the year, authorities recorded 1,028 fatal crashes, leaving 4,936 people seriously injured and requiring hospitalisation. The figures include victims who died at the scene or within 24 hours of the accident.
Compared to 2024, road deaths fell by 3%, making 2025 the second safest year on record since 1960 for interurban roads, excluding the pandemic period. This improvement came despite a record level of long-distance travel, with nearly 479 million journeys, a year-on-year increase of more than 3%.
One of the most significant indicators was the fatal crash rate per million journeys, which dropped to 2.1, the lowest figure ever recorded. In addition, there were 36 days during the year with no road fatalities, reflecting a positive trend in traffic safety.
Nevertheless, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska warned that the figures are “still far too high” and called for stronger road safety measures, particularly those aimed at reducing drink-driving and improving driver responsibility.
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Spain records 1,119 road deaths on interurban roads in 2025, despite overall improvement. Where and how accidents occur
The breakdown by road type shows that conventional roads remain the most dangerous, accounting for around three-quarters of all fatalities. The largest reduction in deaths, however, was recorded on motorways and dual carriageways.
In terms of victim profile, drivers continued to represent the majority of fatalities, followed by passengers and pedestrians. Vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists and pedestrians, made up roughly 40% of all deaths, with motorcyclists particularly affected on non-dual carriageway roads.
Regarding crash typology, run-off-road accidents remained the leading cause of fatal outcomes, followed by head-on collisions. The data also highlight the continued impact of not using safety devices, such as seat belts, which were absent in a significant proportion of fatal crashes involving cars and vans.
Christmas traffic operation
During the 2025–2026 Christmas traffic campaign, a total of 39 people lost their lives, marking a notable decrease compared to the previous holiday period. Most fatal accidents occurred on conventional roads, while motorways accounted for a smaller share.
Despite the downward trend, authorities stress that further efforts are essential to reduce road deaths and injuries, emphasising that even historically low figures still represent an unacceptable human cost.