Road safety requires responsibility and caution

According to the reports received, there were 34 deaths on roads outside built-up areas in Alicante and 32 fatal collisions up to October. However, the figures are attributed to a period in 2026, which has not yet arrived. This discrepancy calls for caution: the figures cannot be treated as a current tally without first clarifying their date and context.

That caution does not make the issue any less important. Every fatal collision leaves an absence and changes a family’s life. Road safety deserves constant attention, not just when a worrying tally is published. For public authorities and the media to respond effectively, they need reliable figures with clear dates; without them, it is difficult to identify trends and assess which measures are working.

It is also worth remembering that road rules are not bureaucratic red tape. They provide a shared framework to protect the lives of everyone using the road. Obeying speed limits, driving attentively and avoiding risky behaviour are personal responsibilities, but they also show consideration for others. No public campaign can replace that day-to-day responsibility.

Finally, the response should combine firmness with common sense. Monitoring and enforcement have their place, alongside information and prevention. The aim is not to seek someone to blame before the circumstances of each collision are known, or to attribute a complex problem to a single cause. It is to protect lives and foster a culture of caution and respect.

It is reasonable to argue that an emphasis on individual responsibility could overshadow the condition of the roads and other factors. That concern deserves consideration. This is precisely why verifiable data and a thorough assessment are needed: safety depends both on decisions behind the wheel and on the conditions that make it possible to travel safely.