The latest data provided by the Ministry of the Interior of Spain has revealed that during the second phase of year-end holidays, about 4,520,000 million long-distance journeys are expected to take place on the road.
These movements include not only the initial journey but also those undertaken upon reaching the holiday destination. Popular relaxation destinations include second homes, mountain regions for winter sports enthusiasts, winter and Christmas-themed tourist spots, and bustling shopping areas.
According to the Ministry, peak hours of travel congestion are expected to fall within the time of 6:00 p.m. until today at 21:00 and from 10:00 to 13:00 on Saturday, December 30, especially for departures from major urban centres. Moreover, the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Monday, January 1, are expected to witness increased traffic for those returning from their holiday destinations.
To ensure a smooth, orderly and safe flow of traffic during these movements, the Spanish traffic authorities have implemented various regulatory and planning measures, including the creation of reversible and complementary lanes using cones during peak traffic hours, as well as the establishment of alternative routes.
In addition, road construction projects will be stopped, and the organisation of sports events and other activities that take up road space will be limited. Restrictions will also be placed on the movement of trucks, especially those carrying specific goods, in certain sections, dates and times.
Starting from today, the second phase of the Christmas 2023 operation is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. This comprehensive initiative will persist until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, January 1, 2024, with the primary objective of ensuring the safety of all road users.
In order to execute all these measures, the DGT has officials, specialized technical personnel who serve the Traffic Management Centers; agents of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard and employees of the maintenance companies, of roads under concession under the Ministry of Transport and the rest of the road owners, as well as personnel from the emergency services, both health and firefighters.
Echoing the Agency’s Christmas campaign slogan this year, “Better late than never”, Traffic earnestly urges citizens to prioritise responsibility and refrain from actions that, in many cases, can lead to accidents with tragic consequences.
Furthermore, the Ministry revealed that since the start of the Christmas period on December 22, a grim toll has been recorded, with 18 lives lost in road accidents. The same also noted that this sobering reality underscores the critical importance of individual choice and adherence to safety measures to protect lives on the road this festive season.
