Catalonia’s most dangerous roads have been revealed in a new safety study, with the T-314 between Cambrils and Reus taking the top spot.
According to the latest RACC risk map, this conventional road has overtaken Barcelona’s Arrabassada route after five years as the region’s most hazardous stretch.
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The findings highlight a concerning 5% increase in serious and fatal accidents across Catalonia’s road network between 2022 and 2024.
Catalonia’s Most Dangerous Roads: Key Findings
The comprehensive study analysed over 6,300 kilometres of interurban roads, which account for 93% of mobility and 80% of accidents involving deaths or serious injuries. Furthermore, the research quantifies for the first time the social cost of traffic accidents, which reached €696 million. This figure considers all injury levels, from minor to fatal.
Motorcycles and mopeds present a particular concern. Despite representing just 3.2% of overall mobility, they are involved in half of all accidents, with concentrations highest in the Barcelona metropolitan area. Consequently, they featured in 80% of incidents on the ten most dangerous road sections. The risk of an accident is 3.4 times greater on a conventional road than on a motorway or dual carriageway.
Three roads managed by Barcelona’s provincial council feature in the top ten: the BV-5224 from Manlleu to Torelló, the BV-5001 in La Roca, and the B-602 in Argentona. These less-travelled routes see accidents primarily involving motorcycles and bicycles. Therefore, authorities are installing protective skirts to reduce rider injury and segregating lanes for cyclists.
Infrastructure Investment And Future Measures
The Catalan government is investing €660 million until 2030 to improve safety on these high-risk routes. Key measures include adding a third lane for overtaking in conflict zones, installing physical separation between opposing traffic flows, and applying audible road markings. “We are currently drafting 23 new projects for this transformation,” stated David Prat, Director General of Mobility Infrastructure for the Generalitat.
Additionally, the government plans to grant municipalities the authority to install speed cameras on conventional roads to reduce speeds. Average speeds have already decreased from 70 km/h to 47 km/h over the past two decades on these routes. Meanwhile, the section with the highest concentration of lorry accidents is on the N-340 near Torredembarra, partly due to congestion from 12,000 lorries on the nearby two-lane AP-7 motorway.
To meet the EU target of halving road deaths by 2030, RACC President Josep Mateu emphasised a three-pronged approach. This strategy requires action on infrastructure, significant focus on driver behaviour, and promoting renewal of the vehicle fleet. The goal is to reduce accidents to just 100 by the end of the decade, a target that demands sustained effort and investment.
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