Most Spaniards Support Stricter Rules for Pedestrians

Most Spaniards support stricter rules for pedestrians. According to a survey by the Ponle Freno‑AXA Centre for Research and Public Opinion, 83% of Spain's residents are in favour of fines for pedestrians who cross the road while looking at their phone. 76% support fines for those who ignore red lights or cross the street where there are no pedestrian crossings.

The survey was conducted among 3,570 people aged 18 and over living in cities with a population of more than 100,000.

According to Spain's Directorate General of Traffic (DGT), in 2024 there were 12,233 pedestrian accidents in Spain, resulting in 207 deaths and 1,583 serious injuries. Despite the death toll being one of the lowest on record, the agency still described these figures as "outrageous".

The Ponle Freno‑AXA Centre has presented a manifesto aimed at halving the number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured in cities by 2030. The initiative has already been sent to more than 8,000 municipalities across the country.

Among the proposed measures are improved lighting at pedestrian crossings, expanded pedestrian zones, speed limits of 20–30 km/h in residential areas, and the use of artificial intelligence systems at traffic lights to adjust crossing times based on pedestrian flow.

Experts also described the model of an "ideal" pedestrian crossing. It should be raised to pavement level, well lit, and placed frequently enough — roughly every 50–70 metres — so that people are not tempted to cross the road in unauthorised places.