Summer road deaths drop to all-time low

"The best figure in a decade, probably the best in history." Interior Minister Antonio Camacho on Thursday announced the final figures from the 2011 Summer Traffic Operation, which recorded a fall of 41 road deaths over last year's total.

The number of deaths on Spanish roads during July and August this year was 321, compared to 362 in 2010, a figure that makes this summer the least deadly in 50 years. "But 321 fatalities is a lot, too many. We have to keep working. Without doubt we are not satisfied," Camacho added.

The minister said the figures for 2011 were similar to those of the 1970s, when there were 2.1 million drivers in Spain compared to 26 million drivers. Of those killed, 54 percent were in cars, 17 percent on motorbikes and nine percent were pedestrians.