Reducing crashes with speed enforcement

Research from Spain suggests that tougher enforcement of vehicle speed can help cut crashes and road casualties. This follows the analysis of data collated by Spain’s Civil Guard between 2006 and 2015. The study is titled 'The contribution to road safety of the supervision of compliance with traffic regulations', and was recently published jointly by the Mapfre Foundation and in which the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard (ATGC) and the Sevilla University. According to the study, tougher enforcement in the p
September 14, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Research from Spain suggests that tougher enforcement of vehicle speed can help cut crashes and road casualties. This follows the analysis of data collated by Spain’s Civil Guard between 2006 and 2015. The study is titled 'The contribution to road safety of the supervision of compliance with traffic regulations', and was recently published jointly by the Mapfre Foundation and in which the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard (ATGC) and the Sevilla University. According to the study, tougher enforcement in the period from 2006-2015 ensured that the road casualty rate from crashes was reduced by 510 deaths.


Furthermore, the use of enforcement measures meant that 125 deaths were prevented during 2017. With more enforcement measures due in the future, road deaths could be reduced by a further 596 over the next five years according to the report. According to the study, the use of radar has been particularly effective in lowering road deaths. According to calculations by Spain’s Civil Guard, a 10% increase in speed controls would cut road deaths by 4%.

Not everyone in the road safety community is so convinced that controlling speed is so crucial to lowering the casualty rate however. The report’s findings may suit some countries, but not all.

Related Content

  • Increase in road crashes in the Netherlands
    November 1, 2016
    After several years of declining numbers of road crashes and improving safety statistics, the Netherlands is seeing an increase in road fatalities. Research by Dutch insurance umbrella body Verbond van Verzekeraars reveals that the number of crashes in the country is now increasing once more. During 2015 there were 502,000 personal claims following road crashes in the country, coampred with 462,000 in the previous year. Meanwhile the road fatality rate increased from 570 in 2014 to 621 in 2015. Similarly, t
    Read More
  • Thailand’s dangerous days for festival
    April 20, 2018
    Thailand’s recent Songkran Festival period saw a worrying spike in road crashes and fatalities. There were 418 road deaths over the seven day festival period, held in April, an increase of 7% over the 390 fatalities recorded for the event in 2017. The Road Safety Centre's report said that the number of crashes during the seven day festival hit 3,724 for 2018, compared with 3,690 in 2017, while injuries grew to 3,897 in 2018 from 3,808 in 2017.
    Read More
  • UK eyes e-scooter design regulations
    February 14, 2025
    A report from TRL and WMG - Warwick Manufacturing Group - recommends technical requirements for e-scooters to improve their safety and ensure they are as inclusive and sustainable as possible.
    Read More
  • Future road safety progress may be slow
    March 9, 2018
    Future progress on road safety could be slower than hoped, according to the European Transport Safety Commission (ETSC). It warns that the high profile development of autonomous vehicles could restrain moves to improve road safety around the world. With road deaths killing up to 1.25 million people/year, lowering the casualty rate is seen as a priority. But a much sharper awareness of how to reduce the number of deaths and injuries is required.
    Read More

Highlighted Content