The Spanish Directorate-General for Traffic has launched a special enforcement campaign focused on the use of seat belts and child restraint systems (CRS), as part of its annual road safety monitoring programme. The initiative is carried out in coordination with the European traffic police network RoadPol and will run until Sunday, 15 March.
During this period, officers from the Guardia Civil Traffic Division, together with regional and local police forces that join the initiative, will increase roadside checks on both interurban roads and urban streets. The controls will target all vehicle occupants, regardless of whether they are travelling in the front or rear seats, in order to verify the correct use of mandatory safety devices.
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Traffic launches a special campaign to monitor the use of seat belts and child restraint systems
In addition to on-site inspections, the campaign includes aerial monitoring and automated surveillance systems using cameras installed on various types of roads, including conventional routes and high-occupancy lanes. These technological tools allow authorities to extend monitoring capacity and improve the detection of violations related to the absence or misuse of safety restraints.
Seat belts and child restraint systems are among the most effective measures to protect vehicle occupants in the event of a road traffic crash. Research indicates that wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of death by around 50 percent and provides particularly high levels of protection in rollover accidents. In urban environments, the probability of suffering serious or fatal injuries is significantly lower when the seat belt is used correctly.
Accident statistics continue to highlight the importance of maintaining preventive campaigns. In 2025, provisional data recorded within the first 24 hours after accidents on interurban roads showed that 157 people who died while travelling in passenger cars or vans were not wearing a seat belt or an appropriate child restraint system at the time of the crash.
Across Europe, estimates suggest that a significant proportion of vehicle occupants who suffer fatal injuries were not using a seat belt. In addition, only a limited share of children travelling in vehicles are properly secured with suitable restraint systems. It is estimated that approximately 900 deaths could be prevented each year across Europe if nearly all drivers and passengers consistently used these safety devices correctly.
Traffic authorities emphasize that wearing a seat belt protects not only the individual occupant but also the rest of the passengers in the vehicle. In a frontal collision, an unrestrained rear-seat passenger can become a high-impact force within the cabin, greatly increasing the risk of severe or fatal injuries for those seated in the front.
For children, standard seat belts alone do not provide sufficient protection due to their physical characteristics. As a result, minors must use child restraint systems designed according to their weight and height. In Spain, children measuring 135 centimetres or less are required to travel in the rear seats using an appropriate restraint system, except in specific circumstances established by regulations.
When properly used, child restraint systems can substantially reduce the risk of death or serious injury in the event of a crash. However, incorrect installation or the use of devices that are not suitable for the child’s size can significantly reduce their protective effectiveness.
Previous enforcement campaigns demonstrate the importance of continued monitoring. In March 2025, the Guardia Civil Traffic Division inspected more than 448,000 vehicles and detected over 6,400 individuals travelling without mandatory safety devices. In urban areas, hundreds of municipalities participated in the initiative through local police controls.
Spanish road safety legislation requires the use of seat belts and child restraint systems. Failure to comply with this obligation constitutes a serious traffic offence punishable by a fine of 200 euros and the deduction of four points from the driver’s licence.
This campaign forms part of the actions included in the Spanish Road Safety Strategy 2030, which promotes a zero-tolerance approach to risky behaviour while driving. Key priorities include reducing speeding, preventing driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, limiting distractions caused by mobile phone use and encouraging the consistent use of vehicle safety devices.