1959

The Central Government Administration creates the 'JCT' (subsequently named the General Directorate for Traffic (DGT- Dirección General de Trafico)).

1962

First statistical data on traffic accidents for Spain.

1974

Obligatory safety belt for car front seat passengers on interurban roads.

Reduction of speed limit on interurban roads from 130 kph to 110 kph.

1981

Obligatory helmet protection for motorcycle drivers.

1989

Creation of Road Safety Agency.

1990- 94

“White Flag” Campaign[1] .

1991

Creation of the “Catalan Road Safety Institute”.

1992

Deployment of the first surveillance of speeding using mobile cameras.

Reduction of the speed limit on urban roads from 60 kph to 50 kph.

1993

The Ministerial Order revises the definition of traffic accident, recognising the European statistics standardisation. Definition of “traffic accident fatalities”: accident victims who die immediately or during the next 30 days. (Studies to calculate the factor to be applied to 24-hour fatalities are also started).

1994

Cars older than 4 years have to pass a two-year periodic vehicle inspection.

1997

(Law of 24 December) Creation of the Catalan Traffic Service (SCT).

Automatic withdrawl of the driver license for alcohol abuse infringements (since 1990, if additional danger was involved).

1998

(into force in 1999) the alcohol limit is reduced from 0,5 to 0,3 g/l (professional or beginner drivers) and from 0,8 to 0,5 g/l (other drivers).

Deployment of SCT in the province of Girona.

Approval of 1999-2001 Road Safety Plan .

Transfer to SCT of the executive responsibility for vehicle traffic, including the collection and publication of traffic accident statistics.

1999

Deployment of SCT in the province of Lleida.

2000

Deployment of SCT in the province of Barcelona and Tarragona (completes the deployment for the whole territory).

2001

Automatic cancellation of driver license for speed infringements if they exceed by more than 50% the maximum speed allowed with a minimum of 30KM/h (since 1990, if additional danger was involved).

2002

Publication of the 2002-2004 Road Safety Plan. Establishes a target of 15% reduction of deaths and serious injuries in 3 years with reference to 2000 values.

Implementation of the first speeding surveillance using fixed digital cameras.

2003

(Law approved) Prohibition of mobile telephone utilisation (except for free hand modality) while driving.

(Law approved) Decriminalisation of driving without insurance, keeping the administrative sanction, as before.

(Law approved) Speeding is considered to be a specific manifestation of reckless driving together with other factors.

(Law approved) Obligatory use of safety belt for rear seat passengers of vehicles with rear seat belts installed.