Almost 33% of drivers subjected to drug tests during the DGT checks in Seville during the summer campaign tested positive. The Government's subdelegate, Francisco Toscano, presented the data this Tuesday in Dos Hermanas.
The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has intensified alcohol and drug checks on Seville's roads during the special summer campaign, which started last Monday and will continue until next Sunday. In the previous edition, 104 drivers tested positive out of the 6,057 who underwent the tests, representing 1.7% of the total tests conducted. However, among those who were tested for drugs due to showing symptoms, the percentage of positives soared to 33%.
Selective checks and mediated data
The agents of the Civil Guard Traffic Group only conduct drug tests on those drivers who show clear signs of consumption, such as red eyes, slurred speech, or erratic movements. Therefore, the positive drug test data is higher than in the case of alcohol, where tests are random. Francisco Toscano, the Government's subdelegate in Seville, explained that this methodology skews the results, but that the trend is concerning.
Regarding alcohol, the balance of the previous campaign revealed that almost one in ten drivers exceeded the permitted limit. In total, there were 104 positives for alcohol and drugs, of which 95.8% were detected in preventive checks. The rest corresponded to infractions, accidents, or drivers who showed evident symptoms.
Alcohol, the second factor in fatal accidents
Toscano warned that alcohol consumption among drivers has increased in recent years and that it is the second most common contributing factor in traffic accidents. According to DGT statistics, alcohol was present in 28% of fatal accidents in Spain during 2024. So far in the summer of 2025, one fatal accident has been recorded on interurban roads in the province of Seville, compared to nine in the summer of 2024 and eleven in 2023.
The current campaign aims to intensify checks across the entire Seville territory, with special attention to the entrances and exits of large cities, as well as on secondary roads. The DGT describes these checks as a "fundamental tool" to deter drivers from getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs.
Reactions and calls for responsibility
During the presentation, which took place in Dos Hermanas, the provincial head of Traffic in Seville, Ana Luz Jiménez, insisted on the need for drivers to be aware of the dangers of driving under the influence of substances. "They not only endanger their own lives but also those of other road users," she pointed out. Representatives from the Association of People with Spinal Cord Injury and Other Physical Disabilities (Aspaym) also participated in the event, reminding of the serious consequences that can arise from an accident.
For the Seville driver, the recommendation is clear: if consuming alcohol or drugs, it is best to leave the car at home and opt for public transport, a taxi, or a designated driver. The DGT reminds that penalties for testing positive can reach up to 1,000 euros and the loss of up to six points from the driving licence.
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