Rise in Alcohol and Drug Checks in the Canary Islands

The DGT launches a pre‑Christmas campaign to curb alcohol and drug use on the roads

The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) will carry out a week‑long campaign to monitor alcohol and other drug consumption, aiming to reduce high‑risk behaviour on both urban and inter‑urban roads throughout the Canary Islands.

According to the Government Delegation, the initiative was presented by delegate Anselmo Pestana, the provincial head of the DGT in Las Palmas Eva Canitrot, the provincial head of the DGT in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Fulgencio Marín, and the Canary Islands delegate of STOP Accidentes Zeltia Rodríguez.

The Traffic Group of the Civil Guard, together with Local Police, will conduct control and surveillance operations until 21 December to curb drug use by drivers, especially alcohol, which remains the second‑most frequent contributing factor in traffic accidents.

• Alcohol was involved in 12 % of all accidents recorded in 2024.
• It was a contributing factor in 28 % of fatal traffic accidents, accounting for 273 cases.

“Driving after drinking multiplies the risk of an accident by a factor of 2 to 15. It not only increases the likelihood of a crash but also raises mortality because alcohol is linked to a poorer prognosis for injuries,” said Anselmo Pestana.

“That is why it is especially important to raise awareness in the days leading up to the Christmas holidays about the consumption of substances such as alcohol during celebrations, particularly when people will need to travel afterwards by car or motorbike.”

“Even if we believe we are fully using our physical and mental faculties, alcohol intake raises the risk of an accident, even when blood‑alcohol levels are within the legal limits: the only safe rate is 0.0 %.”