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Spain scores biggest drop in road deaths in EU

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Spain scores biggest drop in road deaths in EU
Photo: Esparta Palma

Road deaths more than halved in European Union in the decade from 2001 to 2012 with Spain being the continent's greatest improver, figures released on Tuesday show.

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There were 12,345 road deaths in the European Union in 2012, down 55 percent from 27,700 in 2001, the figures from European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) show.

Spain made the greatest inroads in that period, with the total number of deaths on the nation's roads plummeting from 3,143 in 2001 to 872 in 2012.

That was an annual fall of 12 percent over the 12-year period.

Spain's improvement was partly due to huge investment in infrastructure, the ETSC said in its Ranking EU Progress on Car Occupant Safety report.

The organization also put the good results down to Spain's introduction in 2006 of a penalty points system, with drivers becoming more aware of the dangers of drink driving, speeding, not wearing seat belts or using mobile phones on the roads. 

SEE ALSO: Spaniards crowned European road rage kings

Also playing a role were communications campaigns and greater enforcement against major traffic offences, the ETSC said.

This saw, for example, the number of people wearing seat belts rise from 74 percent in 2005 to 91 percent in 2012.

But ETSC Executive Director Antonio Avenoso warned against complacency in Spain and the EU. 

"While huge progress has been made in cutting the number of people killed in cars on Europe’s roads it is simply wrong that 12000 still die every year for reasons that are mostly avoidable," he said.

"Simple measures like seat belt reminders in front and rear passenger seats, better enforcement of speed limits, and measures to prevent repeat drink drivers from getting behind the wheel could put the EU’s target of halving the number of road deaths by 2020 firmly within reach," he added.

Spain's Easter road toll in 2014 was 35, up from 26 a year earlier.

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