Experts from the undergraduate program in Criminology, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice at UFV highlight the impact of traffic accidents

Road traffic accidents cannot be understood merely as a series of incidents. Behind each case lie decisions, risky behavior, criminal liability, direct and indirect victims, and a social impact that demands a legal, law enforcement, institutional, and humanitarian response.

This was one of the main conclusions of the event “It Was No Accident,” held at Francisco de Vitoria University to mark the launch of the book La Marquesina by Laura Gómez García, a doctor of law, criminologist, and director of the Master’s Program in Criminalistics. The event was attended by experts from various fields who helped provide an analysis of traffic accidents from different perspectives.

Joining Laura were journalists Marta Robles and Noelia Camacho, Mario Jesús Sanz Fernández-Vega, court prosecutor and coordinator of Road Safety; Pere Navarro, Director General of Traffic; Fernando Argote Cardeñosa, Chief Commissioner of the Judicial Traffic Police of the Madrid Municipal Police; and María José Jiménez and Gema Sánchez, who have been affected by this lack of road safety.

Laura's work documents the case of Iván Plaza Jiménez, a 15-year-old teenager who lost his life in 2016 after being struck by a repeat offender who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs and driving a stolen vehicle.

DSC_2686 Criminal law, road safety, and police investigation: three approaches to analyzing the impact of traffic accidents on society Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

One of the talks held as part of the presentation

Language in Road Rage

One of the key messages of the meeting was the need to rethink the language used to discuss traffic violence. María José, the mother of Iván Plaza, argued that we cannot always refer to them as “accidents” when they are caused by preventable behaviors, alcohol or drug use, repeat offenses, or a disregard for the lives of others.

From this perspective, the victims’ testimonies became a key element in understanding the true scope of these events. The publication of La Marquesina aims precisely to shed light on this reality and contribute to greater social awareness of the personal, family, and legal consequences of traffic crimes.

A public health issue and a matter of criminal liability

The meeting also highlighted that traffic accidents are a public health issue that requires prevention, rigorous investigation, and a proportionate criminal response. Pere Navarro, Director General of Traffic, emphasized that “excessive speed, drugs, and alcohol are constant factors in traffic crimes,” identifying these factors as key determinants of traffic violence.

From a legal perspective, Mario Jesús Sanz Fernández-Vega, the coordinating prosecutor for Road Safety, discussed the current legal classification of vehicular homicide and potential reforms, in a context where the public attention these cases have received has driven significant progress in Spain.

The technical aspects were analyzed by Fernando Argote Cardeñosa, chief investigator of the Traffic Division of the Madrid Municipal Police, who explained the role of police investigations and accident reconstruction in determining liability and providing rigour in these proceedings.

DSC_2714 (1) Criminal law, road safety, and police investigation: three approaches to analyzing the impact of traffic accidents on society Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

Victims who turn pain into social awareness

The event also highlighted the role of victims as advocates and sources of support. Gema Sánchez Perea, a victim of traffic violence, emphasized how those who have experienced such incidents end up building essential support networks for others going through similar experiences.

Journalist Noelia Camacho cited a particularly significant figure: 73,500 victims between 2000 and 2025. This statistic helps illustrate the social impact of traffic accidents and prompts reflection on the effectiveness of current prevention and safety measures.

Iván Plaza’s legacy, summed up by his family in a single sentence—“I want to change the world”—thus becomes a call to reexamine the social, legal, and institutional response to road violence.

Through this event, Francisco de Vitoria University reinforces the role of the Master’s in Criminalistics as an academic space connected to the real challenges facing society, grounded in rigour , applied research, and a focus on the dignity of victims. It puts this into practice through a range of out-of-classroom activities, such as a visit to the National Police Academy in Ávila, a visit to the General Scientific Police Headquarters in Canillas, or a visit to the National Police International Cooperation Division: Europol, Interpol.