First “Operacion Salida” Summer Gettaway Set For This Weekend

July 1, 2021July 1, 2021 Madrid Metropolitan madrid news, operacion salida, spain news

Summer has officially begun as millions of Madrileños are set to leave this weekend for the beach and family pueblos in the seasonal migration that sees most of the country on the move to get away from the big cities.

The Spanish Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, kicked off the traffic awareness campaign this week and outlined the resources that will be deployed by the DGT and Civil Guard over the summer months.

A total of 780 fixed speed radars (16 more than last year), 545 mobile devices; 39 drones (28 more); 12 helicopters; 15 unmarked vans; and 216 seat belt and mobile phone control cameras will be at their disposal across the country in a bid to reduce the number of road accidents.

Madrid will see a deployment of more than 1,800 Civil Guard officers, 5 helicopters and 21 drones as well as the 317 motorway cameras monitoring the 18 million journeys from and to the capital.

The Spanish Traffic Directorate (DGT) has asked the public “not to lower your guard” in a summer campaign in which 91.2 million trips by road are expected – mainly to coastal areas and second homes across the mainland.

Grande-Marlaska highlighted that the recovery of traffic volume to near pre-pandemic levels is “faster than expected” and that after a long winter of confinements and restrictions, from which we are gradually emerging, we must be more careful than ever.”

June saw 110 road deaths in Spain – 40 more than in the same period of 2019.

As part of the summer campaign roadside checks will also be set up to monitor the consumption of alcohol and drugs.

27 per cent of the autopsies on drivers involved in fatal road accidents showed high levels of alcohol in their blood.

As in previous years the “Operacion Salida” will be conducted over the peak gettaway & return weekends being: