80 per cent of Majorcans are dangerous drivers

80 per cent of young drivers in Majorca consider themselves dangerous drivers. According to a survey carried out by sociologist Amando de Miguel for the insurance company Mapfre's road safety institute, the vast majority of young Majorcan drivers consider themselves “high risk” drivers while ironically, a high level of young people in Majorca are aware that traffic accidents are one of the biggest killers of young people in Spain. The survey was carried out in 18 Spanish regions and the results were unveiled yesterday at the start of the VII Road Safety Week, which is being held in Palma. One of the main objectives of this year's conference is to try and establish how many young people are aware of the fact that last year, 33 per cent of people who died on the roads in Spain were aged between 15 and 24. In Majorca, 80 to 85 per cent of young people, appear to be aware of the high death toll, well above the national average - but directors of the Road Safety Institute believe that the message is not getting across. A new awareness campaign is to be launched in cinemas across the country with the slogan “what are you thinking of doing this weekend”. There are going to be a series of lectures given at Universities and a competition set up for the best campaign, in which the winning student will pick up a prize of one million pesetas. The campaign will then be used at discos, bars and petrol stations. A road safety awareness road show, which will tour the country, is also to be put into motion, which will include two vehicles which have been involved in an accident being suspended from a crane, so that people can see the results of a car crash. A simultaneous campaign warning drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving, not wearing a helmet on a motorbike, driving too fast and taking one's mind off the road.