L’Arte de Purre Decions in politics
Politics involves a constant exercise of weighting between multiple needs and limited resources. Each decision a politician makes is marked by the pressure of doing what is right, although the weather is often not on our side. In this context, one of the most decisive moments is when the measures taken are primarily the preservation of lives.
The impact of tolls lifting
Recently, the Director of Traffic in Catalonia said that security measures should be implemented before removing tolls from the AP-7. This opinion, from a technical perspective, is understandable, as the increase in motorway vehicles has led to an increase in incidents, from delays to serious accidents.
Data that speak for themselves
But the data must be analyzed carefully. Since 2021, Terres de l’Ebre have registered a significant savings of lives, with 24 people who continue with us thanks to the decision to raise the tolls. This represents a significant transformation comparing the 39 deaths from traffic accidents that occurred between 2010 and 2019 in the same area.
A broader context
It is important to note that the reduction of victims is not attributable to the lifting of tolls. Other measures, such as the ban on trucks on the N-340 and the construction of roundabouts, have helped improve road safety. However, toll removal has been a key factor in decreasing mortality.
The challenge of inaction
Despite criticism, it is necessary to recognize that the time to make decisions is complex. It would have been ideal to be able to build a third lane before the tolls lift. This project is currently under development, but its execution will require years. The question that arises is how many lives would have been lost if the tolls had been maintained during this period.
Futuristic actions to improve traffic
Since the detection of increasing traffic on the AP-7, both the Central Government and the Government of Catalonia have been working to implement solutions that minimize the effects of this increase. There is an underway plan that includes an investment of 250 million euros until 2031, with measures such as the installation of smart signaling systems.
A decision that changed lives
Establishing priorities is one of the biggest challenges that politicians face. The decision to lift the AP-7 tolls, aware that this would mean saving lives, was a clear and necessary decision. Statistics talk about 24 lives, but even a single life justifies this action.