Spain road safety and driving conviction trends

In the Valencian Community, traffic enforcement continues to result in significant judicial referrals. In July, the Guardia Civil reported 225 drivers facing judicial action across the region, primarily due to alcohol-related offenses (116 cases) and driving without a license (98 cases). Within the 98 unlicensed driving instances, 54 individuals had previously lost their privileges due to point depletion, while 33 had never obtained a license. In the province of Castellón specifically, 37 drivers were referred to the judiciary in July, including 22 for alcohol-related offenses and 15 for driving without a valid permit.

Nationally, the 2025 Report of the State Attorney General's Office highlights a shift in road safety crime, where convictions for driving without a valid license have surpassed alcohol or drug-related offenses for the first time. Unlicensed driving accounted for 52.6% of total road safety criminal cases (39,217 convictions), while alcohol or drug-related offenses accounted for 41.8% (31,159 convictions).

Total criminal convictions for road safety violations reached 74,560, the second-lowest figure since 2010, excluding the 2020 pandemic. Catalonia recorded the highest number of convictions at 18,051, followed by Andalusia and Madrid. In response to these trends, the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has issued reminders regarding the points-based license system, noting that drivers can lose their licenses through accumulated infractions even without substance-related offenses. Under this system, experienced drivers begin with 12 points and new drivers with 8, with potential bonuses up to 15 points for good records.