40% of Road Deaths Involve Motorcyclists
Although road deaths in Catalonia have decreased by 15% compared to the same period last year, motorcyclists remain disproportionately affected. As of October 2026, 40 out of 100 road fatalities were motorcyclists, accounting for 40% of all deaths. The Servei Català de Trànsit (SCT), the regional traffic authority, confirmed that four motorcyclists died between Saturday 11 October and Tuesday 14 October. The most recent death occurred in El Vendrell on Tuesday, following three others over the weekend. Ramon Lamiel, Director General of the SCT, stated that this group is the most concerning. He noted that the four motorcyclists who died were aged between 50 and 78, and that in three of the four cases, the rider was responsible for the accident.
These are run-off-road incidents, head-on collisions, and, in essence, a lack of control.
Lamiel attributed the crashes to a lack of risk perception, particularly in older riders, and stressed the need for deeper training.
Expanded Training and Safer Routes Planned
The SCT has long offered accredited safe and efficient driving courses for cars, motorcycles, and mopeds. While currently optional, the authority is now planning to promote them more widely and may propose making them mandatory, though that decision would rest with the Direcció General de Trànsit. Lamiel announced that new awareness campaigns will be launched to improve rider training and risk awareness. The SCT also plans to clearly mark safe routes for motorcyclists and improve signage, particularly on roads like the C-58 and C-31, where bus VAO lanes are accessible to motorcycles. In Barcelona, the vulnerability of motorcyclists is especially evident. With the death of a rider in Les Corts on Wednesday 14 October, there have been seven motorcyclist fatalities in the city this year, nearly half of the city’s total of 15 road deaths. The SCT’s broader strategy includes both education and infrastructure improvements, aiming to reverse the trend in motorcyclist deaths despite an overall decline in road fatalities. For more information on safe driving courses and awareness initiatives, visit the Moto amb seny and Motorista, roda amb seguretat campaigns on the official SCT website.
Primary sources: Servei Català de Trànsit, transit.gencat.cat, Generalitat de Catalunya. Servei Català de Trànsit. Reported by 3cat.cat, diaridesabadell.com, elmotordegirona.cat, laplanaradio.cat, 3CatInfo Barcelona.
