The lack of ABS systems in millions of cars and motorcycles on Spain’s roads leads every year to hundreds of deaths and thousands of accidents that could have been prevented. Although the technology has existed for almost half a century, a significant part of the country’s vehicle fleet is still not equipped with this basic safety feature. The consequences are felt not only by drivers but also by pedestrians and the families of those who have died.
According to Bosch and DGT statistics, in 2024, out of 787 fatalities in accidents involving cars and vans, 98 people were in vehicles without ABS. If this system had been installed, at least 10 lives could have been saved. The situation is even more concerning for motorcycles: of 478 deaths, 342 were riders of vehicles without anti-lock braking systems, and calculations show that 137 of them could have survived. Overall, equipping all vehicles with ABS could prevent up to 158 deaths each year, representing about 10% of the total road fatalities in the country.
Aging vehicle fleet
Spain has around 34 million vehicles, including 28 million cars and vans and another 6 million motorcycles and scooters. The average age of cars and motorcycles is over 14 years, while for two-wheeled vehicles it reaches 18 years. The age of the vehicle fleet is one of the main reasons why nearly 8 million vehicles are still not equipped with ABS. Among cars and vans, 3.5 million units (12.5%) lack this system, and among motorcycles and scooters, the figure rises to 4.3 million (71.6%).
The reason for this situation lies in the specifics of the legislation. ABS only became mandatory for cars in the European Union from 2004, and for motorcycles over 125 cc from 2017. As a result, millions of cars and motorcycles produced before these requirements were introduced are still on the roads. This creates a significant gap in safety levels between new and older vehicles.
Accident statistics
In 2024, Spain recorded 111,773 road traffic accidents. If all cars and motorcycles had been equipped with ABS, 9,495 injury crashes could have been avoided. Among passenger cars and vans, the system could have prevented 1,050 accidents, representing 10% of crashes involving vehicles without ABS. However, the most critical situation is among motorcycles and scooters: here, the lack of the system leads to 8,019 additional accidents annually, equivalent to 40% of all incidents in this segment.
The impact of ABS on pedestrian safety is especially noteworthy. In 2024, 320 people died in the country after being hit by vehicles, and 40 of them were struck by transport without an anti-lock braking system. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), ABS installation can reduce pedestrian fatality rates in such accidents by 27%. This means another 11 lives could be saved every year thanks to this technology alone.
Technology and consequences
ABS is a system that prevents wheel lockup during emergency braking. For cars, it helps maintain control and reduces stopping distance, while for motorcycles, it’s crucial for keeping balance and preventing falls on slippery roads. Despite its simplicity and effectiveness, millions of Spaniards continue to drive cars and motorcycles without this system, putting themselves and others at risk.
The aging vehicle fleet and lack of large-scale renewal programs mean that Spain remains one of the European countries with the highest percentage of vehicles without ABS. This not only increases the number of accidents but also slows the adoption of other modern safety systems. According to russpain.com, without urgent measures to update the vehicle fleet, the situation could only get worse in the coming years.
The need for change
The issue of millions of vehicles lacking ABS requires immediate attention from both the government and society. Without fleet renewal and incentives to replace old cars and motorcycles, it is impossible to reduce accident and fatality rates on the roads. Each year of delay leads to hundreds of new tragedies that could be avoided with long-available technology.
Introducing mandatory recycling programs for old cars and motorcycles, along with incentives to purchase new vehicles equipped with modern safety systems, is the only way to meaningfully reduce road fatalities. For now, millions of Spaniards continue to risk their lives due to outdated vehicles, and accident statistics remain alarmingly high.
Bosch is a German company that was the first to introduce ABS for cars in 1978 and for motorcycles in 1995. This technology has become a global safety standard, proving its effectiveness in preventing accidents and saving lives. Today, Bosch continues to develop new systems to improve road safety, and its technologies are used by most leading automakers. In Spain, the introduction of ABS has been a key factor in reducing road deaths, but millions of vehicles still lack this system.
