Spain's point‑based driving licence system cuts road deaths by 60% after 20 years

The point‑based driving licence system introduced in Spain by Law 17/2005 and fully effective from 1 July 2006 has markedly improved road safety. Official DGT data show that traffic collisions with victims rose from 91,187 in 2005 to 101,996 in 2024, but fatalities fell from 4,442 to 1,785, a 60 % reduction. The death rate per million inhabitants dropped from 101 in 2005 to 37 in 2024.

Over two decades, more than 20 million sanctions have been issued, resulting in the loss of 72 million points. Around 20 million drivers received an initial credit of 12 points, with three million newcomers starting with eight points. In 2024 alone, 4.5 million points were deducted and nearly 30,000 licences were withdrawn for complete point loss. The most common infractions leading to point loss include excessive speed, alcohol or drug‑related driving, running red lights, mobile‑phone use, and failure to wear seatbelts.

The DGT has also delivered 141,994 traffic‑safety re‑education courses; 88.4 % of participants avoided any sanction in the following six months, and 55.9 % remained penalty‑free for three years. The system was reformed in 2011 and again in 2022 to refine sanction procedures.