Training for foreign truck drivers and new speed limits: this is how the Government seeks to reduce accidents on the AP-7

BarcelonaSpeed limits will be reduced, and there will be more speed cameras to ensure that drivers, especially truck drivers, are actually respecting the speed limit. These are two of the main measures announced this Thursday by the Catalan Interior Ministry to address the increase in fatal accidents on the AP-7, Catalonia's busiest motorway. The data for this artery of the country's circulation is not good.This year, up to 15 people have lost their lives, more than double the number from last year. "The goal is to improve road safety to reduce fatalities and serious injuries," stated the Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon, at a press conference this Thursday morning, where she also announced enhanced training for non-EU truck drivers. As reported by ARA this past weekend, the Interior Ministry is focusing on trucks, and these measures will be accompanied by increased monitoring of heavy vehicles. In fact, starting next month, trucks will be limited to 80 km/h on the AP-7 highway section between Calafat (Baix Ebre) and Amposta (Montsià), precisely the area where two serious truck accidents—one fatal—occurred 10 days ago, causing hours of traffic jams. Similarly, passenger cars will have to reduce their speed to 100 km/h. These restrictions will only apply to southbound traffic and are expected to come into effect next month. The Ministry of Transport, which owns the road, is already working on the new signage. This strategy will initially be in place for six months. The director of the Catalan Traffic Service (SCT), Ramon Lamiel, pointed out that at this point on the Ebro River, some accidents have been linked to vehicles leaving the road, which is why they have opted to reduce the speed limit. Trucks are not allowed to proceed along this stretch, and it was found that 2% of them violate this prohibition. The speed limit will be accompanied by increased radar enforcement to ensure compliance.

Traffic authorities are awaiting six new radar units – mobile detectors that can also be permanently stationary – some of which will be deployed to this section of the Ebro River. There will also be more online speed cameras – the now-familiar orange boxes, which are already in operation this week – and the two traffic helicopters and the Mossos d'Esquadra drones will continue detecting traffic violations from the air. Furthermore, the Mossos will intensify both moving and stationary tachograph checks on trucks, as explained by ARA, A new system allows all information to be obtained remotely.Parlon hopes these measures will reduce accidents, but also traffic congestion.

More training ahead of license exchanges

The regional minister and the director of traffic also focused on foreign truck drivers, who, according to Parlon, sometimes have "certain difficulties in understanding the characteristics of our roads." The Interior Minister's position aligns with this. as reported by AHORA this SundayAn increase in accidents involving non-EU truck drivers has been detected. Specifically, they warn of the time gap between when the driver begins the license exchange process but is already authorized to drive. Traffic authorities will now reinforce this specific training before the exchange takes place. Parlon announced that it will begin in 2026 with an investment of €200,000. Lamiel added that the training will be voluntary and has already been agreed upon with the transport sector. In fact, a training session had already been held at a driving school in Granollers, but now it is planned to expand to more locations throughout the region. Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of the Traffic Division, Inspector Vanessa Bohé, also spoke, providing data on the increase in checks being carried out by the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) in recent months. For example, citations issued to heavy goods vehicles have increased by 37%. And the impact of drugs is worrying, after registering 26% more positive tests. Vehicle inspections are also a problem: Parlon explained that, of the checks carried out so far, 45% of the vehicles had some kind of defect.