Spaniards hit the road as tourist season starts

The first day of July sees the start of the summer tourist season in Spain and as a result millions of Spaniards are expected to take to their cars and head for the country's beaches over the coming days.

Around four million extra vehicles will take to Spain's roads this weekend as the first phase of the "exodus" begins.

It is thought Spaniards will make a total of 84 million extra car journeys over the summer, 3.5 percent higher than in 2015 with around 41 million of those journeys expected to be made in July and 43 million in August.

This takes the number of travelers back to similar levels to those seen in the summer of 2007, just before the start of the economic crisis and reflects the recovery in the Spanish economy.

The Spanish General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has identified four peak periods in which the majority of Spaniards travel: those are between July 1 and 3, July 12 and 15, July 29 and Aug. 1 and at the end of the holiday season between Aug. 26 and 28.

There will, however, be special police controls over every weekend during the two-month period in order to ensure the maximum safety for road users.

A total of 223 Spaniards lost their lives on the road during July and August 2015, 10 fewer than in 2014.

Police will be checking that speed limits are adhered to, using radar, mobile cameras and helicopter units, while also carrying out controls for alcohol and drug use and also to ensure that vehicles are in a fit condition for the journeys they are making.

Extra signals have been placed on what are considered to be the 300 most dangerous stretches on Spain's secondary roads, while there will also be extra police radars on stretches where it has been shown drivers tend to increase their speed. Endit