THROUGHOUT THE rest of this week, police throughout the region will be undertaking a dedicated traffic campaign aimed at checking a total of 5,000 drivers for their alcohol or drugs intake.
Some 220 members of the Guardia Civil are involved in the operation that will last until and including Sunday.
The campaign will have the support of the Policia Local that will control the roads in the municipalities of Abanilla, Alcantarilla, Alguazas, Beniel, Bullas, Calasparra, Caravaca de la Cruz, Cartagena, Cehegín, Fuente Alamo, Jumilla, La Unión, Librilla, Lorca, Mazarrón, Mula, Murcia, Puerto Lumbreras, San Javier, San Pedro del Pinatar, Santomera, Torre Pacheco and Totana.
According to data from the Provincial Traffic Headquarters, during the weekends this year to date, a total of 65,736 breath tests were carried out with a result of 1,049 positive, accounting for 1.60% of the total. In terms of detecting the use of drugs, there were 816 tests carried out in 2017, of which 399 were positive.
The authorities are more than aware that alcohol and drugs are the main cause in one-third of fatal accidents. According to data from the Institute of Legal Medicine based in Murcia of those killed in a traffic accident during 2016, 12% had drugs in the system and 18% with alcohol.
