It is 20 years since the entry into force in the South Basque Country of the Point Driving Licence
Road mortality has fallen by 60% since the entry into force of the point driving licence. In these two decades, drivers in the Spanish state have lost more than 72 million points, mostly due to exceeding speed limits, driving under the influence of alcohol and passing red lights.
A checkpoint for the Ertzaintza.
In these two decades, drivers have lost more than 72 million points in the Spanish state. The main causes of loss have been to exceed speed limits, drive under the influence of alcohol and pass red lights.
The measure was implemented with two main objectives: to improve driver behaviour and reduce road deaths. The target can be said to have been met, witha 60% drop in accident deaths since the entry into force of the driving licence. According to DGT data, 4,442 people died on the road in 2005 and 1,785 in 2024, which means that the mortality rate per million inhabitants has risen from 101 to 37.
This system was based on the models of Germany and France . At first, each driver in the South Basque Country was awarded 12 points — 8 points for new drivers — and if he drove well year after year, he could get a maximum of 15 points. The measure caused a lot of excitement at first because it completely changed his philosophy: from having a license forever, there might be a risk of losing it for lack of points.
Speed, alcohol and traffic lights: major violations
Over the course of two decades, more than 72.1 million points have been withdrawn from drivers in the Spanish state through more than 20 million penalties. Exceeding speed limits has been the main reason for the withdrawal of points (a total of 24.4 million points), followed by driving under the influence of alcohol (9.2 million) and red traffic lights (8.4 million). The most serious offences, such as exceeding the permitted alcohol rate, drug use, or driving with a mobile phone in hand, are punishable by six points.
The system launched awareness and road education courses , and 88.4% of those who took the course have not committed a repeat offence in the next six months.
This model has undergone two legislative reforms since its entry into force (in 2011 and 2022), the last of which tightened penalties for using mobile phones at driving time, raising the points taken from 3 to 6 by the mere fact of carrying the phone in your hand.
With a view to the future, they stress that they will continue to update the regulations, including lowering the maximum permitted alcohol rate to 0.2 g/l. Although some motorists' associations criticise errors in the notification of fines, both victim associations and the DGT management agree that this measure has changed social awareness from a mere right to a commitment to personal responsibility.
You might like
The first melanoma vaccine passed phase 3 in a large-scale clinical trial
The pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck have reported the success of this personalized vaccine with messenger RNA along with immunotherapy treatment.
The anti-aggression device will be activated in Bilbao on Saturday for Big Week
The Bilbao City Council and Bilboko Konpartsak have jointly renewed the specific protocol for male aggression.
Grenada has been immersed in a series of earthquakes since August 14
Grenada has spent another sleepless night, counting replicas, following the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the province yesterday. Experts have confirmed that both the province and the metropolitan area have been stuck in a seismic complex since 14 August: a succession of earthquakes of similar power on the surface that can last for weeks or months.
The hundreds of migrant women who arrived in Ceuta remain in a particularly appalling situation
The hundreds of women who arrived in Ceuta from Morocco remain in a particularly appalling situation. Jada are in a serious situation, but the words, behaviour and actions of the rest of the male migrants increase the lack of protection. UNICEF is experiencing the crisis closely: they report that there are not enough police and that there are officers who cannot help them.
Europe is in severe drought
The lack of rain and successive heat waves reduce the flow of rivers and affect agriculture, transportation and water supply.
A minute of silence was observed in Espinosa de los Monteros in memory of the child from Bizkaia who died in a hit-and-run
The City of Espinosa de los Monteros (Burgos) observed a minute's silence on Monday in memory of the 10-year-old boy who died as a result of serious injuries sustained on Saturday night when he was hit by a tractor.
Half a thousand residents of seven villages evicted from the Riglos fire can now return home
Despite the favourable development of the fire and the progress of perimeter stabilization in the sector on the left flank, in the areas of Santa Cruz de la Seros and San Juan de la Peña "there are still many unburned hot spots in wooded areas", where the Infoar Brigades and the Military Emergency Unit (EMU) continue to work.
The remains found in the Yesa swamp belong to a man from Pamplona, according to the Civil Guard, and are being investigated as homicide
The investigation has been taken over by the Zaragoza Civil Guard in collaboration with the Foral Police and the Pamplona Municipal Police. The remains appeared on one of the banks of the swamp on 4 August, when the water level began to fall as a result of the drought.
35% of drivers have positive drug checks on CSC roads
In the 2,809 tests conducted by the Ertzaintza in the first five months of the year, 982 drivers tested positive for drug use, a decrease of 0.7 points from the same period last year.
The Alhambra suffers slight damage, especially in the Alcazaba, but not structural
After being closed since Tuesday afternoon, the monumental complex has been reopened this Wednesday with all its usual route except the Alcazaba Pass. In addition, to ensure the safety of visitors, the routes through the Nazarene Palaces and the Generalife have been adapted.