HIGH-SPEED rail services between Spain's largest two cities and France have been snapped up by half a million passengers in less than nine months, reveals the transport board.
A million cars on Spain's roads have 'serious tyre problems': Low tread, wrong pressure and uneven wear
24/07/2017
OVER a million of the cars on Spain's roads have 'serious defects' with their wheels or tyres, according to alarming figures released by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT).
Most of these defects involve treads of less than the legal minimum of 1.6 millimetres, uneven wear on tyres due to poor suspension or incorrect wheel balancing, or tyres with the wrong pressure – too flat, or too much air.
Yet the latter is a relatively easy problem to solve, with air-pumps at all petrol stations being either free of charge or as little as €1 to use, and the pressure required stated in the car handbook which, if the owner is not in possession of, can be found with a simple internet search.
Headlights, fog lights, rear, brake or indicator lights have not been flagged up as a major issue with cars on Spain's roads, but the DGT strongly recommends changing the bulbs after every 40,000 kilometres or every two years – always both together so they remain even – as they lose some of their brightness over time.
Special attention should be paid to usage, maintenance and monitoring headlights to ensure they are bright enough, but not so bright as to dazzle other road users at night, says the DGT.
Lights should also be cleaned regularly to maximise their efficiency.
Windscreen wipers, even if not apparently damaged, should also be replaced approximately once a year, and windscreens themselves kept clean and dent-free.
Airbags and supports for cameras, sensors and other gadgets which aid driving should be regularly checked, the DGT says, and the registration plates kept clean so the number can be easily read and the car identified.
No valid ITV for 3.7 million cars
One in five vehicles does not have a valid ITV – Spain's answer to an MOT, in which the full mechanics including lights, brakes and wheels are checked.
This translates to 3,661,854 of the total of 19,509,380 vehicles which underwent a test last year, or 18.77% of the full amount – and a 4% hike on figures for 2015.
These data are a huge concern both for the DGT and the European Union, given that at least five people a day lose their lives on the roads in the 28 member States due to accidents caused entirely by technical faults.
As a result, the EU is considering tightening up rules on technical vehicle inspections.
ITV tests are compulsory for all cars of four years old or over – and for newer vehicles which have been used as hire or courtesy cars – every two years, and annually for all those over 10 years old.
Owners receive a letter through the post reminding them to attend an ITV station, most of which are open six days a week from around 07.00 to 22.00, some requiring appointments and some where drivers can simply turn up – and off-peak, after 20.30 or during the long lunch hour, many have no queues and the test can take as little as 15 minutes.
A 'pass' sticker is then given and must be displayed prominently on the upper left-hand corner of the windscreen, with all previous ones removed.
The test typically costs around €40 to €60, depending upon region, and must be taken in the region of residence of the owner, although not necessarily in the same province.
But the financial crisis means more and more car-owners are dispensing with their ITVs, finding the cost prohibitive – and even more so if their vehicles fail and require work before a retake.
In fact, the DGT says most cars on the road without an ITV are those which failed the first time and whose owners could not afford to fix them.
However, an ITV is crucial as it is a swift and cost-effective way of detecting problems which could become expensive or dangerous if ignored, and covers many of the areas checked during a routine service in addition.
A nationwide campaign has been launched with traffic police stopping cars at random to check for adequate maintenance, particularly tyres, brakes, lights, indicators and other vital parts which could lead to serious accidents if they are not in good condition.
DGT data reveal that the average age of a car involved in a fatal accident was 12 years, or nine years for motorbikes and mopeds, and 13 years for lorries of 3.5 tonnes or less.
And the average age of a car on Spain's roads continues to climb as the hangover from the financial crisis means fewer people able to replace older vehicles with newer ones.
This translates to the risk of an accident causing death being 1.6 times that of four years ago, based on an average vehicle age of 10 to 14 years.
In cars of 15 years old up to 20, the risk of a fatal crash is 2.2 times that seen in a car of less than a decade old, or 220%.
Photograph 1: YouTube
Photograph 2: ITV.com.es
Related Topics
OVER a million of the cars on Spain's roads have 'serious defects' with their wheels or tyres, according to alarming figures released by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT).
Most of these defects involve treads of less than the legal minimum of 1.6 millimetres, uneven wear on tyres due to poor suspension or incorrect wheel balancing, or tyres with the wrong pressure – too flat, or too much air.
Yet the latter is a relatively easy problem to solve, with air-pumps at all petrol stations being either free of charge or as little as €1 to use, and the pressure required stated in the car handbook which, if the owner is not in possession of, can be found with a simple internet search.
Headlights, fog lights, rear, brake or indicator lights have not been flagged up as a major issue with cars on Spain's roads, but the DGT strongly recommends changing the bulbs after every 40,000 kilometres or every two years – always both together so they remain even – as they lose some of their brightness over time.
Special attention should be paid to usage, maintenance and monitoring headlights to ensure they are bright enough, but not so bright as to dazzle other road users at night, says the DGT.
Lights should also be cleaned regularly to maximise their efficiency.
Windscreen wipers, even if not apparently damaged, should also be replaced approximately once a year, and windscreens themselves kept clean and dent-free.
Airbags and supports for cameras, sensors and other gadgets which aid driving should be regularly checked, the DGT says, and the registration plates kept clean so the number can be easily read and the car identified.
No valid ITV for 3.7 million cars
One in five vehicles does not have a valid ITV – Spain's answer to an MOT, in which the full mechanics including lights, brakes and wheels are checked.
This translates to 3,661,854 of the total of 19,509,380 vehicles which underwent a test last year, or 18.77% of the full amount – and a 4% hike on figures for 2015.
These data are a huge concern both for the DGT and the European Union, given that at least five people a day lose their lives on the roads in the 28 member States due to accidents caused entirely by technical faults.
As a result, the EU is considering tightening up rules on technical vehicle inspections.
ITV tests are compulsory for all cars of four years old or over – and for newer vehicles which have been used as hire or courtesy cars – every two years, and annually for all those over 10 years old.
Owners receive a letter through the post reminding them to attend an ITV station, most of which are open six days a week from around 07.00 to 22.00, some requiring appointments and some where drivers can simply turn up – and off-peak, after 20.30 or during the long lunch hour, many have no queues and the test can take as little as 15 minutes.
A 'pass' sticker is then given and must be displayed prominently on the upper left-hand corner of the windscreen, with all previous ones removed.
The test typically costs around €40 to €60, depending upon region, and must be taken in the region of residence of the owner, although not necessarily in the same province.
But the financial crisis means more and more car-owners are dispensing with their ITVs, finding the cost prohibitive – and even more so if their vehicles fail and require work before a retake.
In fact, the DGT says most cars on the road without an ITV are those which failed the first time and whose owners could not afford to fix them.
However, an ITV is crucial as it is a swift and cost-effective way of detecting problems which could become expensive or dangerous if ignored, and covers many of the areas checked during a routine service in addition.
A nationwide campaign has been launched with traffic police stopping cars at random to check for adequate maintenance, particularly tyres, brakes, lights, indicators and other vital parts which could lead to serious accidents if they are not in good condition.
DGT data reveal that the average age of a car involved in a fatal accident was 12 years, or nine years for motorbikes and mopeds, and 13 years for lorries of 3.5 tonnes or less.
And the average age of a car on Spain's roads continues to climb as the hangover from the financial crisis means fewer people able to replace older vehicles with newer ones.
This translates to the risk of an accident causing death being 1.6 times that of four years ago, based on an average vehicle age of 10 to 14 years.
In cars of 15 years old up to 20, the risk of a fatal crash is 2.2 times that seen in a car of less than a decade old, or 220%.
Photograph 1: YouTube
Photograph 2: ITV.com.es
Related Topics
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