Alert on the Roads: 22.4 Million Journeys and Extreme Risk Mark Christmas

The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has deployed an unprecedented surveillance operation in the face of the traffic avalanche taking place this holiday season. With the operation active from last Friday, December 19, until January 6, authorities are preparing to manage an alarming figure: 22.4 million journeys that will clog the country’s main roads.
This massive volume of vehicles, concentrated in just three weeks, creates a high-risk scenario where any mistake can have tragic consequences.

The danger is structured in three successive and massive waves. The first, corresponding to Christmas, has already left behind its 8.5 million trips.
At this moment, we are in the midst of the second phase, that of New Year’s Eve, a critical period that extends until January 1 and traditionally records some of the highest accident rates, frequently linked to reckless driving after celebrations.
The third and final wave, that of Three Kings’ Day, threatens to repeat the chaos starting January 2.

The DGT’s recommendations are not suggestions; they are mandatory survival measures.
The combination of alcohol and the steering wheel stands as the main lethal threat during these dates. To this risk are added short trips, which induce a false sense of security, and night journeys, where fatigue and reduced visibility multiply the danger.
Furthermore, winter weather is an unpredictable trap: fog, frost, and rain can turn a familiar road into a lethal track in a matter of minutes.

Faced with this panorama, the call for responsibility is extreme. It is not just about avoiding a fine; it is about preserving lives.
Planning the trip exhaustively, resting obligatorily before getting in the car, and maintaining a generous safety distance are not options, they are imperatives.
Every decision at the wheel during these days carries enormous weight. Haste, overconfidence, and laxity with the rules are accomplices to tragedy.

The DGT’s operation, with its massive checkpoints and reinforced surveillance, is a clear reflection of the gravity of the period we are facing. However, technology and police presence cannot replace individual awareness. In a context of dense and tense traffic, patience and full attention are as crucial as good tire condition. Ignoring these realities is to assume a risk that jeopardizes what is most important.

The conclusion is clear and severe: this Christmas, Spanish roads are a high-risk environment. Enjoying the holidays is incompatible with the slightest transgression at the wheel.
The goal is no longer just to arrive; it is to arrive alive. Given the forecast of millions of vehicles in motion, the only possible attitude is extreme caution.
The alternative, as statistics from previous years unfortunately show, can be irreversible. Safety is not a festive recommendation; it is the only priority.