AP-7 highway sees rising accidents five years after toll removal

AP-7 highway traffic accidents toll removal road safety Catalonia

Five years after the removal of tolls on the AP-7 highway, the road is experiencing a significant increase in traffic and accidents. While overall road fatalities in the region have decreased by 26.2% since 2019, the AP-7 has seen a 33% rise in deaths, totaling 12 fatalities in 2026, seven of whom were motorcyclists.

Traffic volume on the AP-7 has surged, reaching peaks of 150,000 vehicles per day, including 25,000 heavy vehicles. This increased mobility has led to a doubling of serious injuries on the highway. Additionally, breakdowns on the AP-7 rose by 40% in the first seven months of 2026 compared to the previous year, and incidents involving drivers from outside the EU have doubled since 2019.

Specific sections of the highway are seeing even sharper declines in safety. The stretch between Pertús and La Roca del Vallès has reported a 129% increase in accidents involving deaths or serious injuries. Ramon Lamiel, director of the Servei Català de Trànsit, described the highway as having 'a bad iron health' due to the high volume of traffic it now absorbs.

Entities

AP-7 · Barcelona · Girona · Ramon Lamiel · Servei Català de Trànsit

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Fatalities on the AP-7 highway increased by 33% to 12 deaths in 2026. www.diaridetarragona.com · beteve.cat
[● 3 SOURCES] The AP-7 highway has 'a bad iron health' due to concentrated mobility. www.diaridetarragona.com · beteve.cat
[● 3 SOURCES] Fatalities on the regional road network fell 26.2% between January 1 and August 28 compared to 2019. www.diaridetarragona.com · beteve.cat
[○ 1 SOURCE] Accidents involving deaths or serious injuries increased by 129% on the AP-7 stretch between Pertús and La Roca del Vallès.
[● 2 SOURCES] Incidents involving non-EU drivers on the AP-7 have doubled since 2019. www.diaridetarragona.com · beteve.cat
[● 2 SOURCES] Breakdowns on the AP-7 increased by 40% in the first seven months of 2026 compared to the previous year. www.diaridetarragona.com · beteve.cat
[● 3 SOURCES] Serious injuries on the AP-7 highway have doubled compared to the same period in 2019. www.diaridetarragona.com · beteve.cat
[● 3 SOURCES] Serious injuries on the regional road network fell 9.1% compared to 2019. www.diaridetarragona.com · beteve.cat