Spain's DGT launches All Saints' traffic operation, forecasting 5.34 million long-distance trips

Timing and scope

Spain's Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) starts a special operation for the All Saints' holiday at 15:00 on Friday, 30 October. In most regions it runs until 24:00 on Sunday, 1 November. In Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, the Canary Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Extremadura and the Community of Madrid, it continues to midnight on Monday, 2 November, when that day is a public holiday. The DGT expects 5.34 million long-distance road trips nationwide, on top of numerous shorter journeys, many of them to cemeteries.

Regional forecasts

Andalusia has the largest regional forecast, 1,068,000 long-distance trips through midnight on Monday, 2 November, according to a government note. Castilla y León expects about 690,000 trips, with Valladolid and Burgos each forecast to exceed 100,000 and Zamora and Soria expecting 52,000 and 42,000 respectively. Aragon projects 480,000 trips, the Region of Murcia 304,380 and Asturias 132,000, while Cantabria expects 125,000 long-distance trips on its main roads. In Murcia, provincial traffic chief Virgia Jerez has asked drivers to avoid the busiest days and hours on the roads.

Andalusia1,068,000

Castilla y León690,000

Aragon480,000

Murcia304,380

Asturias132,000

Cantabria125,000

Andalusia

1068000 trips

Castilla y León

690000 trips

Aragon

480000 trips

Murcia

304380 trips

Asturias

132000 trips

Cantabria

125000 trips

Data from the article text

Peak periods

The busiest windows fall on Friday afternoon, Saturday morning, Sunday and Monday. In Aragon, heavy traffic is expected from 16:00 to 21:00 on Friday, 9:00 to 14:00 on Saturday, 31 October, and 15:30 to 21:00 on Monday, 2 November. Murcia's peaks fall between 16:00 and 20:00 on Friday, 9:00 and 14:00 on Saturday, and 16:00 and 21:00 on Monday. Castilla y León expects the heaviest congestion on Friday from 16:00 to 22:00, with intense traffic on Sunday as well. In Asturias, return trips are expected to begin from early afternoon on Sunday in regions where Monday is not a holiday, namely the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Galicia, Murcia, La Rioja and the Valencian Community.

Enforcement and roadworks

The DGT will deploy Guardia Civil traffic agents, staff from its traffic management centres and aerial units. In Cantabria, up to 180 Guardia Civil traffic agents will be on the roads, supported by local police, while in the Region of Murcia 238 agents will be mobilised. The traffic management centres in Málaga and Seville will operate 24 hours a day, with 101 staff at each centre. Roadworks affecting traffic will be suspended, for example in Aragon from 13:00 on Friday to midnight on Monday. Fixed and mobile speed radars, helicopters, drones and cameras to detect phone use and seatbelt violations will be active. Heavy goods vehicles face restrictions, and sports events that occupy the road are limited. In Cantabria, heavy vehicles will be banned at set weekend times on the eastern A-8 between Laredo and the Biscay border.

Rail disruption

Rail service to Andalusia has been suspended after an accident at Urda, and the DGT expects some passengers to switch to road transport, both coaches and private cars. The agency says it will keep watching the main routes linking Andalusia with other regions for possible extra congestion. The DGT recommends checking forecasts from the state meteorological agency AEMET before setting off, since autumn weather can change suddenly.