European road safety: Proposed speed limit reductions and DGT defense

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has proposed reducing maximum speed limits on highways and motorways to 100 km/h across the European Union to improve road safety. The ETSC estimates that even a 1 km/h reduction in average speed could prevent over 2,200 deaths annually in the EU, noting that increasing speed by 10 km/h can raise the risk of fatal accidents by up to 220%. While the Netherlands has already implemented such measures, the proposal faces opposition from drivers who point to Germany, where many highway sections have no general speed limit yet maintain one of the lowest mortality rates on the continent.

In Spain, the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) has defended its role as a guarantor of road safety. DGT official Juan José Arriola stated that the administration's priority is reducing accidents and improving safety through prevention and technology rather than exerting pressure on professional drivers. The DGT maintains that control and supervision measures are part of a broader policy to prevent dangerous behavior and protect all road users.