Briefing
The Dirección General de Tráfico has set Operación El Pilar 2026 an operational period from 15:00 on Friday, 9 October 2026, until 24:00 on Monday, 12 October, and expects around 5.76 million journeys nationwide during this period. For the Comunitat Valenciana the forecast is 1,267,200 long-distance journeys. The authority explicitly gives these figures in its press release about the operation.
According to the Dirección General de Tráfico, additional measures will be taken to regulate, manage and monitor traffic during Operación El Pilar 2026. These will include, among other things, the Agrupación de Tráfico of the Guardia Civil, with Unidad de Medios Aéreos as well as traffic management centres and maintenance teams for traffic-control technology. The aim is to improve road safety and reduce congestion during expected peak periods.
In the Comunitat Valenciana, the authority expects particularly heavy traffic on access routes to coastal and holiday areas and into the urban areas of Valencia, Alicante and Castellón. Regional media and the DGT also point to typical risk factors: excessive speed, distraction, fatigue and improperly secured loads. The Dirección General de Tráfico recommends spreading out journeys, planning departure times, taking regular breaks and checking the vehicle before setting off. Children must be secured as required by law; motorcyclists must wear protective clothing.
The forecasts are based on previous years’ experience and current booking and mobility indicators; they remain dependent on the weather and the actual behaviour of road users. The Dirección General de Tráfico will publish reliable accident figures after the operation ends. For the latest traffic information, the authority recommends checking official updates from the Dirección General de Tráfico.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).