Canary Islands Nearing Two Million Vehicles, Traffic Insights Revealed
The Canary Islands are close to reaching two million vehicles, according to the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT). However, this number alone does not indicate whether a specific road can handle that level of traffic. To assess this, researchers use an index called Average Daily Intensity (IMD), which measures the number of vehicles passing a stretch of road each day using sensors that differentiate between cars, trucks, motorcycles, and buses.
Víctor Jiménez Barrado, a geography researcher at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), has been applying this index as part of his public outreach project, Másgeografía, releasing monthly maps that gradually cover more areas.
Currently, Jiménez’s research represents one of the most comprehensive assessments of traffic capacity on Canary Island roads, particularly in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. His findings align with the views of Rosa Marina González Marrero, a professor of Economics and Mobility at the University of La Laguna, who previously discussed the lack of a ‘magic number’ of vehicles at which traffic becomes unsustainable.
Traffic Measurement Explained
Jiménez explains that “saturation depends not only on the number of vehicles but also on the road’s category.” He notes that traffic density is considered high when it exceeds 20,000 vehicles per day, while levels above 30,000 or 40,000 are typically found only in metropolitan areas of Spain. Roads exceeding 80,000 vehicles indicate clear congestion.
To obtain these figures, sensors embedded in the road surface count vehicle axles, allowing differentiation between types of vehicles. This data is collected at multiple points along the same road, both in and out, enabling a detailed map of traffic concentration.
A Critical Viaduct
So far, the IMD has only been rigorously applied in Las Palmas, where the Guiniguada viaduct handles around 80,000 vehicles a day in one direction (150,000 in both directions). Jiménez describes this as a “critical location.”
While he admits similar situations may occur in Tenerife, he does not have data to confirm this. However, he acknowledges that traffic issues are well-known, especially on the major roads of Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Jiménez, who lives in central Las Palmas and predominantly walks, does not directly experience traffic jams but notes that “everyone knows someone who struggles with the congestion,” referencing the well-documented bottlenecks on Gran Canaria’s and Tenerife’s roadways.
Two Perspectives, One Conclusion
Jiménez attributes much of the traffic influx to housing prices, saying, “People opt for cheaper homes on the periphery, leading to daily commutes that congest the roads.” This viewpoint echoes González Marrero’s comments regarding the development model that has prioritised cars for decades, particularly for interurban travel.
Both researchers assert that tourism also contributes to traffic loads that local roads must accommodate alongside resident traffic. Jiménez highlights that the impact varies by road type, while González Marrero points out that limiting access in urban areas, where alternatives exist, is different from rural locations without such options.
Both agree on the importance of viable transport alternatives, noting that if a car journey takes 20 minutes while public transport requires two hours, it cannot be considered a reasonable substitute, reinforcing González Marrero’s stance that access restrictions should ensure adequate alternatives first.
Ongoing Traffic Mapping Project
Traffic data is gathered through existing governmental sensors, but overall analysis across the entire archipelago is lacking. Jiménez is working on this geographical outreach project without set deadlines, incrementally scaling up from Las Palmas to Gran Canaria and eventually to the whole of the Canary Islands.
When asked if he would study Tenerife or other non-capital islands, Jiménez confirmed that he would proceed if data becomes available, suggesting that such a comparative study might produce maps around 2027. He believes it could prove an intriguing area for analysis.
