Born the 018, the telephone for victims of traffic accidents
The affected entities value the service, designed to guide and provide psychological support after the disaster
Barcelona018. These three digits are the new free telephone number enabled by the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) to assist people affected by a traffic accident anywhere in the State. Every day of the year, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., this pioneering service offers assistance in fifty languages and provides psychological support, legal guidance, and accompaniment to victims, their families, and close relations. It is also accessible for people with hearing disabilities and, in addition to the telephone, can be accessed via WhatsApp, email, and by filling out a web form.
The 018 does not replace emergency services like 112, but rather acts after the accident, when doubts and difficulties often arise related to administrative procedures, legal proceedings, or the emotional management of trauma. The service is handled by a multidisciplinary team composed of social work, psychology, and law professionals, specializing in road accidents. Through this service, access to a network of victim associations will be facilitated.
Against "desolation" after the accident
The 018 initiative has been positively received by victim associations, as it is a long-standing demand to fight against "the desolation" after accidents. Stop Accidentes has emphasized that victims are often disoriented and in shock, which is why they value that the service can be a good guide at a time when they are particularly vulnerable. "Hopefully, however, no one will have to pick up this phone," said the secretary of the organization, Jeanne Picard, so emotional that she could not continue her speech in front of the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and the director of the DGT, Pere Navarro. Previously, the representative of the organization had stated that traffic victims are "the hidden victims behind the statistics".
At the same event, the organizations emphasized that the consequences of accidents do not end with the initial impact, but extend over time with physical, psychological, and social sequelae, in addition to complex legal processes. In this regard, the new service is seen as a good tool to reduce the feeling of loneliness and the lack of knowledge that afflicts them.
