‹ Back

 

Spain’s speeding crackdown catches 78,000 drivers as motorways emerge as key hotspot

 

Madrid / 29 April 2026

 

Spain’s latest national speed enforcement campaign has highlighted a growing shift in driver behaviour, with motorways and dual carriageways now overtaking secondary roads as the main locations for speeding offences.

 

Figures released by the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) show that 78,045 drivers were caught speeding in just one week, after more than 1.25 million vehicles were checked between April 13 and 19.

 

Fast roads now leading in offences

The most notable trend is where violations are occurring:

• 53.5% of offences were recorded on motorways and dual carriageways
• 43.8% on conventional roads
• 2.6% in urban areas

 

This marks a clear shift from previous years, when rural and secondary roads were considered the primary concern for dangerous driving.

 

Authorities say the findings confirm that drivers are increasingly exceeding limits on faster, higher-capacity roads, possibly due to a false sense of security.

 

Nationwide operation with thousands of checkpoints

The campaign involved more than 3,500 control points across Spain, operated by the Guardia Civil’s traffic division.

 

Despite an increase in the number of vehicles checked compared to 2025, the proportion of offenders remained stable at just over 6%, suggesting that speeding continues to be a persistent, long-term issue rather than a temporary spike.

 

Serious cases rising

Of particular concern are the most extreme offences.

 

Fifteen drivers were referred to court for exceeding speed limits by more than 80 km/h, a criminal offence under Spanish law. Officials say this figure has doubled in the past two years, raising questions about whether current penalties are sufficient deterrents.

 

Costa Blanca: high-risk routes during peak travel

While the DGT data is national, the findings are especially relevant for high-traffic tourist regions such as the Costa Blanca.

 

Key routes in the province of Alicante—including the AP-7 motorway and major access roads to resorts like Benidorm—see significant increases in traffic during holiday periods.

 

Local traffic reports and previous campaigns have consistently identified:

• AP-7 and A-7 motorways as frequent enforcement zones
• Increased speed checks during holiday weekends and peak summer seasons.
• Higher risk of fines on long, straight coastal routes where drivers tend to exceed limits

 

Authorities regularly deploy mobile radars and average-speed cameras in these areas, particularly during busy travel periods.

 

Why speed remains a major risk

Traffic authorities continue to stress that speeding is a leading factor in road accidents.

 

Higher speeds:

• Reduce reaction time
• Increase stopping distance
• Intensify the severity of collisions

 

Even on modern motorways, where roads are wider and better maintained, excessive speed significantly increases risk.

 

Warning ahead of holiday travel

The campaign results come just before the May holiday period, when millions are expected to travel across Spain.

 

The DGT is reminding drivers that:

• Speed checks are not limited to secondary roads
• Motorways are now a primary focus for enforcement
• Penalties can range from fines to licence points—and in extreme cases, criminal charges

 

A shifting road safety challenge

The latest data reflects a changing landscape in Spanish road safety.

 

While infrastructure has improved, driver behaviour on faster roads is becoming a growing concern.

 

With tens of thousands of offences recorded in a single week, authorities say the message is clear: speeding remains one of the biggest risks on Spain’s roads—no matter the setting.