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TRAFFIC police have started a week-long campaign checking cars have an up-to-date ITV – Spain's answer to an MOT – and that their lights, indicators, windscreen wipers and tyres are in the right condition.

The campaign, which runs until Sunday inclusive, is in response to the General Directorate of Traffic's (DGT's) concerns about the increasing number of older vehicles on Spain's roads and the higher risk of death by accident which apparently correlates with the age of the car, motorbike, lorry or van involved.

In fatal crashes in 2017, the average age of cars involved was 13.2 years; in the case of motorbikes, 8.8 years and in lorries up to 3.5 tonnes, 12.8 years.

Additionally, one in five vehicles of all three types, including vans, did not pass their ITV test in 2016 because of safety and maintenance problems or because their emissions were higher than those permitted by law.

Compared with cars of less than four years old, the risk of death in an accident is 1.6 times higher in cars of between 10 and 14 years old, and 2.2 times higher in those aged 15 to 19.

Irrespective of age, over a million vehicles on Spain's roads – about 5% - have serious defects with their wheels or tyres, with the most common problem being the tread falling short of the legal minimum of 1.6 millimetres, or unlevel wear and tear caused by poor suspension, incorrect pressure or the wheels not being properly aligned.