What is the 'rodeo effect'? The new DGT problem

We are living in a time of multiple changes in terms of traffic regulations. This week we welcomed the new speed limits in cities, and also a few weeks ago the project was presented to transform all motorways and highways in Spain into toll roads. If this measure is imposed, which is expected to come into force in 2024, many drivers will choose to drive on secondary roads, where 77% of fatal accidents occur. For this reason, the DGT is very concerned about the so-called ‘rodeo effect’ Consequences of the ‘rodeo effect’ According to a survey carried out by RACE, 73.7% of users are not willing to pay for use of the highways as proposed by the Government, while 21.3% are in favor of the measure and 5% prefer not to give their opinion. This survey confirms what the DGT suspects: the ‘detour effect’ would occur . 52.3% of those surveyed would always look for secondary roads to save their toll money, while 31.5% would do so from time to time. Only 15.7% of the people who participated in the survey would continue to travel on toll roads and highways. The problems that the dreaded ‘detour effect’ would cause are several. On the one hand, it would mean a massive increase in the use of conventional roads, which are not at all prepared to receive such an influx of vehicles. And, on the other hand, according to the Eurorap 2021 report, there are 61 points on conventional Spanish roads where there is a very high accident rate. In the case of Aragon, 25% of these types of roads have a high level of danger. 70 kilometers per hour on secondary roads?Several experts have focused on these roads, where most of the traffic accidents with fatalities occur. Despite being an unpopular measure, they consider that the speed should be reduced to 70 kilometers per hour, according to what they explain, this would reduce the accident rate on conventional roads and, in addition, avoid the ‘detour effect’ of which the DGT warns when the toll on highways and expressways comes into force in 2024. However, for now the General Directorate of Traffic is something that does not contemplate, and the speed limit will continue to be 90 kilometers per hour.