Canary Islands Authorities Issue 27 Penalties in Road Safety Crackdown
Canary Islands authorities issued 27 penalties during a three-day road safety campaign targeting heavy vehicle weight limits, transport authorizations, and tachograph compliance.
The Canary Islands government, in coordination with the Autonomous Police and the Tenerife Island Council, recently conducted a three-day road safety campaign. As part of the Annual Road Transport Inspection Plan, the operation aimed to address ongoing issues in the logistics sector that threaten both road infrastructure and public safety.
During the inspections, authorities issued 27 penalties. Most notably, officers used portable scales to identify four heavy vehicles that exceeded their maximum authorized weight. These vehicles were immobilized, and drivers were required to unload the excess cargo before continuing, as overloading significantly reduces vehicle stability and increases braking distances.
The total number of infractions included:
- 12 cases involving missing transport authorizations.
- 12 cases involving vehicles exceeding weight limits.
- 3 cases involving irregularities with tachographs, which track driving and rest times.
These inspections, conducted under regional and national transport laws, serve two main purposes. Beyond improving road safety by monitoring vehicle conditions and driver activity, the campaign aims to ensure fair competition. By enforcing documentation and labor standards, authorities hope to prevent companies from gaining an unfair advantage through unsafe practices or the exploitation of professional drivers.