•This initiative aims to strengthen awareness of driver drowsiness, one of the most invisible yet dangerous risk factors on the road, and a leading cause of accidents among both private and professional drivers.
•Scientific studies show that driving after fewer than five hours of sleep significantly impairs reaction time, attention, and decision-making, with effects comparable to driving above the legal alcohol limit.
•The campaign was unveiled at an event that brought together institutional representatives and sector experts in a forum for dialogue that discussed measures to prevent driver drowsiness and improve road safety education.
Madrid, 14 April 2026
The Abertis Foundation today unveiled its new road safety campaign, “Hi, I’m Juan, let me buy you a coffee,” an initiative designed to raise awareness of the impact of driver drowsiness, one of the leading causes of road accidents.
Inspired by real events, the campaign’s central piece tells a powerful story showing how lack of rest can lead to high-risk driving situations, with irreversible consequences for the protagonist and far-reaching impacts on others, including other road users and motorway maintenance workers.
The campaign forms part of the Foundation’s commitment to promoting more responsible mobility and was carried out in partnership with Autopistas, Abertis’ subsidiary in Spain, along with key sector partners such as the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), Repsol, AdSalutem Instituto del Sueño (AdSalutem Sleep Institute), and the Institut Guttmann, bringing together technical knowledge and expertise in prevention, health, and road safety.
“Drowsiness is a silent enemy that can appear on any journey. This Abertis Foundation campaign seeks to remind drivers of the importance of stopping, resting, and listening to their bodies to prevent road accidents,” said Elena Salgado, President of the Abertis Foundation. “For years, the Foundation has been promoting awareness and prevention initiatives to help reduce accident rates. We do so in partnership with institutions and companies across the sector, with whom we will continue working to build a shared road safety culture.”
You can watch the campaign video here.
“Driver drowsiness: a collective road safety challenge”
The campaign was unveiled at an event titled “Driver drowsiness: a collective road safety challenge,” which featured several discussion forums focused on building a culture of road safety. The event brought together leading figures including Pere Navarro, Director-General of Traffic; Antoni Esteve, President of AdSalutem Instituto del Sueño; Daniel Vilanova, Director-General of Autopistas (Abertis Spain); and Carlos Folchi, President of the National Federation of Transport Associations in Spain (FENADISMER). All emphasized the need to strengthen regulation, foster innovation, and advance public-private collaboration to reduce accident rates. The event also gathered institutional representatives, serving as a platform for reflection and dialogue between the public administration and the private sector, including Rocío Báguena, Secretary General for Land Transport, who closed the event. The Secretary General highlighted the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility’s commitment to the continuous improvement of safety across our road networks, acknowledging that infrastructure alone cannot address all challenges and must be complemented by a broader set of policies, including awareness-raising and shared responsibility initiatives.
For his part, Pere Navarro noted: “In Spain, we live well but sleep poorly. Drowsiness is a public health issue that directly affects road safety and is closely linked to our daily schedules.”
In line with its international vocation, the Abertis Foundation plans to roll out the campaign across the countries where the Group operates, in order to maximise its impact and continue advancing towards safer, more efficient, and more responsible mobility.
A shared commitment to reducing road accidents
According to United Nations data, road traffic accidents cause approximately 1.3 million deaths worldwide each year, with an economic impact close to 3% of GDP in many countries. In this context, driver drowsiness remains one of the least recognised risk factors among the public, despite its direct contribution to numerous road accidents. Through this campaign, the Abertis Foundation reinforces its commitment to civil society and to research in safe mobility, particularly in relation to children and transport professionals.
Lack of rest while driving has effects comparable to alcohol consumption. Scientific studies cited by experts from the AdSalutem Instituto del Sueño show that driving after fewer than five hours of sleep severely impairs reaction time, attention, and decision-making, reaching levels comparable to blood alcohol concentrations of between 0.05 and 0.08—the legal limit in many countries. This impairment significantly increases the risk of serious accidents, particularly run-off-road crashes and rear-end collisions, confirming that driving without adequate rest can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol.
About the Abertis Foundation
The Abertis Foundation was founded in 1999 as a non-profit entity, with the mission of contributing to the sustainable development of the regions and countries where the Abertis Group operates, such as Spain, France, Puerto Rico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil or Mexico.
The Abertis Foundation engages in actions designed to improve road safety with the aim of reducing accident rates. These actions focus on road safety education for children, raising awareness among young people and prevention in the case of older drivers. The Foundation also engages in initiatives across education, sustainability, and environmental protection.
24 February 2026
•Revenue growth of 4.5%, boosted by strong traffic performance and tariff increases, while EBITDA rose by 6.2% to €4,374 million, both at comparable perimeter and exchange rates.
•In 2025, Abertis strengthened its international leadership through strategic acquisitions, including the French A63 motorway, full ownership of the Vallvidrera and Cadí tunnels in Catalonia, a 22-year extension of the Fluminense corridor concession in Brazil, and the integration in Chile of the Ruta 5 Santiago-Los Vilos motorway, awarded the previous year.
•During the year, Abertis invested close to €2 billion, including the acquisition transactions mentioned above, as well as €739 million allocated to maintenance and expansion investments. In September, Abertis’ shareholders – Grupo ACS and Mundys – injected €400 million in equity to support the company’s growth strategy and further strengthen its balance sheet.
•The Board of Directors of Abertis has today convened the General Shareholders’ Meeting, to be held on 27 March, which includes a proposal for distribution to shareholders of €602 million.
23 September 2025
•The congress, held in Hangzhou (China) from 22 to 26 September, brought together the World Network of Biosphere Reserves - including MedMAB, supported by the Abertis Foundation - to consolidate priorities, strengthen collaboration and define the Global Action Plan for the future.
•The Abertis Foundation delegation at this international event was led by its president, Elena Salgado, who spoke to explain the public-private partnership model implemented through the International Centre for Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves, a UNESCO category 2 centre.
•Throughout the congress, the spotlight was on the importance of thematic networks, such as MedMAB, in achieving the United Nations' objectives, as these networks foster inter-territorial cooperation and promote the role of reserves as living laboratories for sustainability, local economic development and the joint design of solutions that can be scaled up globally.