Debates continue on proposed speed limits for Spanish motorways

DEBATES continue on a new traffic law proposed by the Spanish government to put the speed limit up to 130 kilometres per hour on certain stretches of motorways.

The DGT general traffic authority has announced that if finally approved, the new limit could be applied on 1,500 kilometres of road within Spain.

The ball now appears to be in the court of the government as the Council of Ministers must decide whether the new law goes ahead or not.

While some groups and associations have spoken strongly against the measure, arguing that 36 per cent of fatal accidents are due to cars coming off the road and that obviously if they did so at higher speeds the impact would be worse, 80 per cent of drivers questioned by RACE association said they liked the idea.

General director of the DGT Maria Segui explained that the higher limits would only be put in place on stretches where it is deemed safe to do so, and only when conditions allowed it. Although to start with information on the limit in place at any set time, which would vary depending on weather and traffic conditions, would be displayed on information panels by the roads, Segui explained that within 20 years cars will directly receive and display the information within the vehicle.