Road deaths in Spain increase for first time in more than 10 years

THE number of road deaths in Spain during the first three months of the year has gone up for the first time since 2002, the DGT traffic authority has reported.

A total of 248 people lost their lives on major roads across the country in January, February and March, 28 more than during the same three months in 2014.

However, 2015 has still seen the third lowest figure for road deaths for this period since 1976, beaten only by 2014 with 220 and 2013 with 241, and was far better than a decade ago as 2005 saw 754 deaths in the first quarter.

While DGT director Maria Segui put the extra deaths this year down to an improved financial situation in the country, cheaper petrol and older cars, campaign groups such as DIA Accident Victims Association have called for the authorities to wake up and introduce new measures to halt the increase before it gets worse.