Road fatalities down for eighth year in a row

Traffic fatalities in Spain last year dropped for the eighth year in a row, authorities said Monday. There were 250 fewer deaths on the road in 2011 than during the previous year. And for the first time in half a century, the number of motoring fatalities fell to a figure below 1,500.

There were 1,479 deaths on Spanish roads in 2011, said Interior Minister Jorge Fernández Díaz, who also applauded the "magnificent work" of traffic director Pere Navarro, who was appointed by the Socialist government in 2004.

Spain is one of several European countries that have reported fewer traffic deaths in the past several years. "It is only natural that Spain follow the same evolution that is occurring in the best countries in Europe when it comes to road safety," Navarro said, adding that it has been a difficult task trying to keep the road fatality rates down.