Linea Directa 200 LEFT COL CAR INSURANCE

Date Published: 10/12/2024

Christmas crackdown: The most common festive driving fines in Spain

A quarter of all drivers in Spain expect to pay at least 100 euros in traffic fines this Christmas season

With December now in full swing, the festive season has well and truly arrived, bringing family time, celebrations and, for many, extra stress on the roads.

Spanish cities and towns have been aglow with Christmas lights for weeks and as the long holiday approaches, traffic is ramping up to summer-like levels. Families are travelling to spend the holidays with loved ones, streets are packed full of shoppers and the Guardia Civil is gearing up for one of their busiest times of the year.

A recent study by Coyote, a navigation and traffic alert company, has shed some light on the most common driving fines issued during the holiday season. The results reveal trends that every motorist should keep in mind before heading out to join the Christmas hustle and bustle.

The most common Christmas fines

Here’s the bad news. According to Coyote, an estimated 25% of drivers surveyed expect to pay around 100 euros in fines this Christmas. This means that around a quarter of respondents already know that they will break the traffic rules before ever hitting the road.

The main culprits? Illegal parking and speeding, which consistently top the list of driving offences in Spain.

Parking: More than 40% of fines

Finding a parking spot during the holidays is nothing short of a nightmare. Streets are jam-packed, shopping centres are teeming and festive gatherings leave few spaces available.

Under pressure, many drivers resort to illegal parking, leading to fines that are all too common at this time of year. What might start as a quick dash into a crowded area can quickly turn into a costly mistake.

Speeding: 44% of all fines

Speeding, one of the most common traffic violations in Spain, is even more prevalent during the holidays.

Nearly 300,000 speeding tickets are issued annually, and Christmas is no exception. The survey indicates that 44% of fines during the season are for speeding, as drivers rush to meet family, shop or get to festive events on time.

Christmas crackdown

Interestingly, the Coyote study doesn’t mention anything about alcohol or drug-related offenses, despite these being significant year-round concerns. Statistics show that more than 50,000 fines are issued annually for driving under the influence, a troubling number that often spikes during Christmas due to the season’s many social gatherings.

But overall, throughout Spain, the number of fines issued during the holiday season has been steadily increasing. In 2021, traffic fines between December and January rose by 7%, and last year saw an even steeper climb of 13%.

Based on this trend, experts predict an even higher volume of fines for Christmas 2024, as roads become busier and enforcement tightens.

Find all the latest motoring and travel news here or join our Driving in Spain Facebook group for regular updates

Image: Freepik

Linea Directa Bottom Article M-Z CAR INSURANCE

Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox

Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)