Traffic jams likely as 5.5 million cars hit the roads for May Day weekend

THE forthcoming May Day bank holiday will see over 5.5 million cars on the roads and traffic jams are very likely on motorways between cities or en route to the coasts, warn authorities.
This Thursday, May 1 is a public holiday throughout Spain, and May 2 also is in Madrid – and in other parts of the country, many may take the Friday off work to enable them to go away for a long weekend.

Those living in land-locked cities, particularly the capital, are more likely to head for the coast, with the Valencia province seaside towns of Cullera and Gandia being among the most popular with travellers from Madrid.

This means motorways near cities and also the A-3 Madrid-Valencia highway and the A-7 coast road from France down to Málaga may suffer delays.

Additionally, the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz province) takes place this weekend – May 2, 3 and 4 – meaning even further traffic jams are likely on the south coast.

Police will be out in force between Wednesday afternoon and Sunday night, with speed cameras and breathalysing points set up on minor and major roads.

The speed camera helicopter Pegasus will also be flying a kilometre above the most troublesome roads, including back streets and country lanes, to photograph cars going too fast.

Following a tragic Easter where additional safety campaigns to reduce last year's death toll of 26 failed – a total of 32 fatalities were recorded – the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) intends to be extra-vigilant over the imminent holiday weekend.