A study by Línea Directa Foundation has identified Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes as the street with the most pedestrian deaths in Spain. However, Barcelona City Council has declined to comment on the research findings.
The study, titled ‘Walking Safely: Pedestrian Accidents and Risks in Spain (2014-2023)’, hasn’t gone down well at the council. Press office sources said they didn’t conduct the study and don’t know the methodology or data used. They haven’t denied the claims though.
Línea Directa explains that Gran Via in Barcelona saw eight pedestrian deaths between 2014 and 2023. This is double the figures for Madrid’s Calle de Álcala and Paseo de la Castellana, and Almería’s Avenida del Mediterráneo, which each recorded four deaths. Meanwhile, Avenida de Fernández Ladrera in León saw three deaths during the same period.
The study draws from the DGT’s ARENA database of accidents between 2013 and 2024. Council sources wouldn’t specify which street has the most pedestrian deaths in recent years. They argue other factors matter, not just fatalities, such as serious injuries when determining dangerous spots.
The council notes that someone only counts as a fatal victim if they die within 24 hours of the accident. Each year, the council identifies risk zones – 24 in total in the 2024 road safety report – which last year accumulated 286 accidents with injuries.
Four Gran Via junctions appear on this high-risk list. Gran Via with Aribau saw 21 accidents, Gran Via with Sardenya had 13, Gran Via with Selva de Mar recorded 12, and Gran Via with Urgell saw 10.
In 2024, only one of the 11 official traffic deaths was a pedestrian. However, the number of seriously injured pedestrians rose 25.86% compared to 2023, jumping from 58 to 73. The two main causes of pedestrian accidents are ignoring traffic lights and crossing where it’s not permitted.
So far in 2025, eight people have died in traffic accidents, three of them pedestrians.
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