The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) foresees 7,450,000 long-distance trips during the next five days of Puente del Pilar 2023, and launches the special operation from this Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. until midnight next Sunday, the 15th. October.
The operation has human resources (agents from the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard, civil servants from the eight Traffic Management Centers and personnel in charge of maintaining equipment and installing road measures, in addition to service personnel). emergency), as well as with material means (780 fixed speed control radars, of which 92 are section ones, 545 mobile radars that can be carried on ATGC vehicles, 245 cameras and 15 camouflaged vans to control the use mobile phone and seat belt).
The DGT also has helicopters and drones for surveillance from the air and unmarked vehicles and motorcycles that will circulate on all types of roads in order to check the correct behavior of drivers while driving.
Due to the works at km 120 of the A-4 due to the September rains, in which vehicle circulation is reduced to one lane in each direction, Traffic has designed alternative routes to avoid the affected area: From the Central Zone ( Community of Madrid), it is proposed to take the Extremadura Highway A-5 to Mérida, and then take the A-66 towards Seville; and along the A-42 (Toledo), CM-42 (Los Viñedos highway) to Madridejos to later take, after the construction zone, the A-4 highway towards Córdoba-Seville.
The traffic circulation forecasts contemplate that in the early hours of this Wednesday afternoon there will be significant vehicle movements due to the beginning of the festive period (especially between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.), which will cause "high intensities and traffic problems in exit from the large urban centers, as well as on the main communication routes to the tourist areas of the coast and rest, second homes and towns in celebration".
In this way, the DGT has warned that "intense" traffic in the outbound direction will continue from the early hours of the morning of Thursday the 12th (mainly between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.), with special impact on the accesses and crossings of the towns. in which festivities are celebrated that day. In the afternoon, there may also be return movements at the accesses to large towns as it is the next business day.
Already on Friday the 13th, the usual movements in and out of large urban centers will take place as it is a working day and, in the afternoon, outgoing movements will occur mainly towards second residence areas due to the beginning of the weekend. .
On Saturday the 14th, intense traffic will continue in the morning (between 10:00 and 14:00) out of the large urban centers for the weekend, on short trips to second residence, leisure and recreation areas close to urban centers .
In the early hours of Sunday afternoon (especially between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.) the return of travelers will begin, presenting problems on the main road axes that channel the entire return movement, with highways and highways standing out for their intensity, to transport passengers. problems, already in the evening, at the entrances to large urban centers.
In this context, the DGT has planned different traffic regulation measures, among which are the installation of reversible and additional lanes with cones during peak traffic hours and the establishment of alternative routes. Likewise, road works will be paralyzed, the holding of sports events and other events that involve the occupation of the road will be limited, and the circulation of trucks in general and those transporting certain goods will be restricted on certain sections, dates and times.
On the other hand, the DGT makes a special appeal to motorcycle users, after the previous weekend nine of the eleven killed in a traffic accident were motorcyclists.
To face driving during the autumn in the best road safety conditions, Traffic advises that before embarking on the trip, get the car ready with a check. During the trip, if unfavorable weather conditions arise, it is important to remain cautious and, as a general rule, reduce speed and increase the safety distance. On long journeys, it is best to stop at a rest area and wait for conditions to improve.
In case of fog, rain or at night, turn on the dipped headlights (and the fog lights where applicable), always respecting the essential rule of "see well and be seen"; and increase the safety distance with the vehicle in front.
Traffic recommends always informing yourself of the possibility of adverse weather conditions on the road through the State Meteorological Agency and also planning the trip along the safest route to avoid unforeseen events, informing yourself of the state of the roads through the accounts of X @informacionndgt and @dgtes, of the radio and television newsletters, as well as on the 011 phone, and use the alternative itineraries proposed if necessary.
