Catalonia Launches Pedestrian Safety Campaign with Police Checks
The SCT and local police are targeting high-risk driver and pedestrian behaviors in urban areas through Sunday to curb rising fatalities.
Key Points
- Checks target red light running, failing to yield at crossings, speeding in pedestrian zones.
- Pedestrian violations include crossing outside crosswalks without safety checks.
- Last year: 1,975 fines (868 pedestrian, 648 signals, 459 yielding).
- 29 pedestrian deaths in 2023, 17 urban, up from prior year.
The Catalan Traffic Service (SCT), working with local police forces across Catalonia, has launched a safety campaign today to enhance pedestrian protection in urban areas. Running through Sunday, the initiative targets high-risk behaviours by both drivers and pedestrians in sensitive zones, aiming to reduce incidents that threaten those on foot.
Police checks will focus on common driving violations, including running red lights, failing to stop properly at pedestrian crossings, and exceeding speed limits in pedestrian-friendly or pacified areas. At the same time, the campaign addresses unsafe pedestrian actions, such as crossing outside designated crosswalks or stepping onto roads without ensuring it is safe.
Last year's edition of the coordinated effort, held over the same period, resulted in 1,975 fines. Of these, 868 targeted irregular pedestrian behaviour, 648 involved ignoring traffic signals, and 459 related to not yielding at crossings.
The push comes amid persistent risks: 29 pedestrians died in Catalonia last year, up two from 2024. Seventeen of those fatalities occurred in urban settings, with 12 on interurban roads, highlighting dangers in both city streets and highways.
Authorities emphasise the importance of awareness drives and preventive enforcement to address pedestrian vulnerability and promote safer road sharing.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: