The Guardia Civil has detected dozens of drivers considered a serious risk to road safety on Ibiza during a series of traffic controls carried out in the final week of August.

The island's Traffic Sector intercepted six drivers who were allegedly driving with blood alcohol levels high enough to constitute a criminal offence, while another four were found to be driving without a valid licence.

In addition, authorities processed 76 administrative complaints for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the same period.

The figures form part of the Guardia Civil's latest weekly enforcement report, highlighting the continuing effort to remove dangerous drivers from Ibiza's roads during the busy summer season.

Six Drivers Faced Criminal Proceedings Over Alcohol

Among the most serious cases detected were six drivers whose alcohol levels were considered to have reached the threshold for a criminal offence.

This is different from an ordinary administrative alcohol violation. Spanish road-safety legislation provides for criminal proceedings when a driver's alcohol concentration exceeds the thresholds established by law or when the circumstances of the driving constitute a road-safety offence.

The six cases were therefore not treated simply as routine traffic fines.

The drivers were identified during the intensified controls carried out by the Guardia Civil Traffic Group across Ibiza's road network.

Four More Drivers Were Allegedly Driving Without a Licence

Officers also detected four people driving without the necessary driving authorisation.

Driving without a valid licence can constitute a serious road-safety issue and, depending on the circumstances, can also have criminal consequences under Spanish law.

The detection of four such drivers during a single week's enforcement activity adds to the concerns surrounding high-risk behaviour on the island's roads.

76 Administrative Complaints for Alcohol and Drugs

The largest figure in the latest operation was the 76 administrative complaints for driving after consuming alcohol or drugs.

These cases did not necessarily meet the threshold for a criminal offence, but authorities considered them sufficient to warrant administrative sanctions.

The number demonstrates the scale of the problem detected through preventive controls.

It also highlights the difference between criminal cases and administrative violations: not every driver who tests positive is prosecuted for a crime, but driving after consuming alcohol or drugs can still lead to significant sanctions and restrictions.

Ibiza Traffic Controls Intensified During August

The operation took place during the final week of August, one of the busiest periods of the year on Ibiza.

Summer brings a major increase in road traffic, with residents sharing the island's roads with large numbers of tourists, rental cars, taxis, delivery vehicles, motorcycles and other forms of transport.

The Guardia Civil has therefore maintained intensified surveillance at strategic points across the island.

Officers use roadside checkpoints and targeted controls to detect alcohol and drug use, driving without a licence and other behaviours that could increase the risk of serious collisions.

The Objective Is to Remove Immediate Risks

The Guardia Civil says the primary purpose of these controls is preventive.

Removing drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or who do not have the necessary licence, immediately prevents them from continuing to put other road users at risk.

This is particularly important when such drivers are detected before an accident occurs.

Traffic authorities repeatedly emphasise that enforcement is not only about responding after a collision. Preventive checks are intended to identify dangerous behaviour before it results in injuries or fatalities.

Alcohol Remains a Major Road-Safety Concern

The Ibiza operation forms part of a wider national effort to tackle alcohol and drug use behind the wheel.

The Directorate-General for Traffic, DGT, has identified alcohol as one of the principal contributing factors in serious road collisions.

During its nationwide special campaign in July 2026, the Guardia Civil conducted more than 218,000 alcohol and drug tests, with more than 4,000 positive results.

The DGT has stressed that preventive testing is particularly effective because the majority of positive results are discovered through roadside controls rather than following collisions.

Drug Driving Is Also Under Close Surveillance

The latest Ibiza figures also include a substantial number of administrative complaints relating to alcohol or drugs.

Drug-driving controls can detect the presence of substances including cannabis and cocaine, among others.

A positive test can result in an administrative sanction even where the case does not meet the legal requirements for criminal prosecution.

Authorities have repeatedly warned that drugs can affect concentration, reaction times, perception and decision-making, making it dangerous to drive even when someone believes they are capable of doing so.

A Busy Island Creates Additional Traffic Risks

Ibiza's seasonal traffic levels make road safety a particularly important issue.

During the height of summer, roads that may be relatively quiet during winter can experience heavy traffic and significant congestion.

Visitors unfamiliar with the island's roads may also face challenges navigating unfamiliar routes, while the widespread use of rental cars and scooters adds another variable.

At the same time, nightlife creates periods when alcohol consumption and late-night driving can become particular concerns for enforcement authorities.

Speeding Is Another Major Concern

The latest operation focused on alcohol, drugs and driving authorisation, but the Guardia Civil has also been carrying out separate speed-control operations on Ibiza.

Earlier in August, officers investigated a public-service vehicle driver after the vehicle was detected travelling at 182 kilometres per hour on a road with an 80-kilometre-per-hour limit.

The case was referred to the judicial authorities as a suspected road-safety offence.

The incident underlines the range of dangerous driving behaviour being targeted on Ibiza, from substance use to extreme speeding.

Authorities Are Increasing Preventive Surveillance

The Guardia Civil Traffic Group says its strategy relies on a combination of active surveillance, preventive controls and strict enforcement against irresponsible behaviour.

The intention is to maintain a visible presence on the island's roads and detect dangerous drivers before serious incidents occur.

Controls can be moved between different parts of the road network depending on traffic patterns and enforcement priorities.

This approach allows officers to cover strategic sections of Ibiza's main roads during periods of particularly high activity.

Criminal Offences and Administrative Fines Are Not the Same

The latest statistics illustrate why it is important to distinguish between different types of traffic offences.

The six drivers facing criminal proceedings for alcohol-related conduct were considered to have exceeded the relevant criminal threshold.

The four drivers without a valid licence represent another category of serious infringement, with the legal consequences depending on their individual circumstances.

The 76 administrative complaints for alcohol or drugs were handled separately as traffic violations.

Not all of the drivers detected during the operation therefore face the same type of legal process or penalty.

Removing Dangerous Drivers Before a Crash

For traffic authorities, the most important result of an enforcement campaign is often what does not happen.

A driver stopped while intoxicated cannot continue along the road and potentially cause a collision.

A person driving without the required licence is also prevented from continuing in the same circumstances.

The Guardia Civil's message is that every such intervention removes an immediate potential danger from the road network.

This preventive approach is particularly relevant during Ibiza's peak tourist season, when large numbers of people are travelling at all hours of the day and night.

The Role of Preventive Checks

Roadside controls also serve a broader deterrent function.

Drivers who know that alcohol and drug testing is actively taking place may be less likely to drive after consuming substances.

The DGT has argued that preventive campaigns are an important tool in reducing serious collisions, with most positive alcohol and drug results being identified through these types of checks.

On Ibiza, the seasonal concentration of visitors makes this kind of surveillance particularly visible during the summer months.

A Reminder for Residents and Visitors

The latest figures are also a reminder that Ibiza's road-safety rules apply equally to residents and visitors.

Tourists driving rental cars, scooters or other vehicles are subject to the same requirements as local motorists.

That includes rules on alcohol, drugs, driving licences and speed limits.

Visitors unfamiliar with Spanish road regulations should take particular care, especially after nights out or when travelling on roads they do not know.

Ibiza's Summer Road-Safety Challenge

The latest weekly figures provide a snapshot of the pressures facing the island's road network during peak season.

Six drivers allegedly reached the criminal alcohol threshold.

Four were detected driving without the required licence.

And 76 administrative complaints were processed for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Together, those figures show why the Guardia Civil continues to prioritise preventive traffic controls during the busiest weeks of the year.

More Surveillance Expected on Ibiza's Roads

The Guardia Civil has made clear that traffic surveillance will continue throughout the summer season.

The focus extends beyond alcohol and drugs to speeding, dangerous manoeuvres, illegal transport activity and other behaviour capable of putting road users at risk.

With Ibiza continuing to experience intense seasonal traffic, officers are expected to maintain checkpoints and targeted enforcement operations across the island.

The latest results show that such controls are detecting significant numbers of high-risk drivers before they can continue their journeys.

A Strong Warning During the Peak Season

The figures from the final week of August send a clear road-safety message.

Alcohol, drugs, driving without a licence and other serious infringements continue to be detected on Ibiza despite years of public awareness campaigns and tighter enforcement.

The Guardia Civil's response is to increase preventive surveillance and remove high-risk drivers from the road as soon as they are identified.

For everyone travelling around Ibiza, the warning is simple: the island's summer roads are busy enough without adding impaired or unqualified drivers to the mix.

During one week alone, dozens of motorists were stopped or reported for behaviour that authorities considered dangerous.

The Guardia Civil says it will continue working to prevent those risks from becoming serious crashes.