The Ertzaintza will step up inspections of lorries carrying dangerous goods from 7 to 11 September. The announcement was made on 6 September via the official platform Irekia. The focus is on preventing serious accidents on roads in the Basque Country.
Checks will cover the documents that must be carried, the correct positioning of orange warning plates, the number and working order of fire extinguishers, personal protective equipment and other required equipment. The police will also check compliance with permitted driving and rest periods, proper use of the tachograph and possible tampering with the device to evade inspections. Offences may result in fines, vehicles being taken off the road or driving bans.
The legal basis is the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and the relevant national and regional regulations. The operation is part of the 2026 traffic enforcement calendar published by the Dirección de Tráfico of the Gobierno Vasco, which provides for a total of 33 campaigns. For September, it includes targeted measures for heavy goods vehicles carrying hazardous goods .
The Ertzaintza justifies the inspections by citing the increased risk posed by accidents involving hazardous-goods transport. The aim is to identify technical defects early and penalise breaches of the rules in order to improve safety for road users. Specialised units will carry them out on selected stretches of the Basque road network; local police forces will be involved as needed.
Companies and drivers are expected to check their vehicles, equipment and documentation before setting off. The targeted week is expected to bring a short-term increase in compliance in the hazardous-goods logistics sector. The announcement did not mention a statistical evaluation of the results; reliable figures are expected after the week has ended.
The information is based on the official announcement published via Irekia. The standards to be applied in the inspections derive from ADR requirements and the regulations on traffic enforcement published by the Gobierno Vasco. The measures are limited to the territory of the Basque Country (Euskadi) and apply exclusively to road freight transport involving dangerous substances.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).