Driving in Spain

Spanish cities or large towns are better negotiated by foot or by public transport, but when you want to explore the coast or countryside, you will need a car? and some tips on how to deal with Spanish roads.

Spanish roads

The quality varies from excellent on the main arteries to dire out in the sticks ? and the standard of driving is erratic. You only have to experience a Spanish motorway (autopista) to see the problem.

Machismo still rules among drivers in Spain and a favourite game is to intimidate anyone in the fast lane by driving right up to your bumper to force you to pull across into a slower lane. If you hesitate at a junction or a roundabout, even for a second, you will be "tooted". The Spanish love to use the horn.

Motorways have an ?A? or ?E? prefix to the road number and are often toll roads. For short distances you pay at a booth (peaje) as you exit the road (some toll roads allow you to collect a ticket at the start for longer journeys, so you pay the total when you exit). Choose the lane with an attendant if you are not paying with a credit card or exact change.

Motorways and dual carriageways (autov?s) - fast roads but not necessarily with a central reservation ? have a 100-120kph speed limit as marked. Main roads (carreteras nacionales) have an N or CN before the road number and country roads (carreteras comarcales) begin with a C. The speed limit on country roads is 90kph, on urban roads 50kph and in residential areas 20-50kph as marked.

The N332 road from Cabo Roig to Torrevieja and vice versa was sometimes a slow crawl. Why? There is a toll road nearby to enter or leave the motorway - it could be that drivers who wished to join or leave the motorway were trying to avoid the tolls and using junctions either side of the toll road and using the N332 - they added to normal traffic and so causing a traffic jam.

(A lesson to be learned: If UK governments go ahead with charging high rates for motorways and low rates for country roads - then the inevitable will happen - motorways will be relatively empty (except for business users) and country roads will be gridlocked!!)

Some Legal Aspects for motorists

You should take particular care when driving in Spain as regulations and customs are different from those in the UK and the accident rate is higher.

Driving licences and insurance documents must be carried and produced for inspection if required.

It is a legal requirement for motorists travelling to or transiting Spain to carry two red warning triangles to be placed, in the event of an accident or breakdown, in front of and behind the vehicle. In addition, drivers must have a spare pair of spectacles (if needed for driving), a spare wheel, and a full set of spare bulbs plus the tools to change them. If at any time you have to descend from your vehicle due to accident or breakdown, or whilst awaiting the arrival of the emergency services, it is obligatory to wear a reflective jacket. Failure to do so could result in a heavy fine.

Drivers in Madrid should be aware that local authorities are clamping down on obstructions to traffic flow (such as double-parking). Offenders face heavy on the-spot fines.

Some useful tips:

Watch out for traffic lights, which are invariably positioned very high up in the blinding sun.
Take care at pedestrian crossings, especially if you are the pedestrian as cars will rarely stop at them.
Be extra careful of motorbikes or scooters - they don't seem to follow ANY rules.
On dual carriageways vehicles may overtake on whichever side they feel like and some cars drive without lights when it is dark.
Give way to traffic from the left, especially at roundabouts.
Avoid parking where the kerb is painted yellow, red or white ? or where there is a no parking sign.

UK in Spain look after the interests of British nationals visiting or living in Spain. Whether you are resident in Spain or a visitor, you are strongly advised to read the 'Be Careful' section of the website. Issuing authority in Spain for British passports and visas for the United Kingdom, and register Births and Deaths of British Nationals, as well as providing various notarial acts. They also offer information and advice for British Nationals, available in Consular Information section UK Pension and benefits info

Spanish roads

Machismo still rules among drivers in Spain and a favourite game is to intimidate anyone in the fast lane by driving right up to your bumper to force you to pull across into a slower lane (much like the M6). If you hesitate at a junction or a roundabout, even for a second, you will be "tooted". The Spanish love to use the horn.

The N332 road from Cabo Roig to Torrevieja and vice versa was sometimes a slow crawl. Why? There is a toll road nearby to enter or leave the motorway - it appeared that drivers who wished to join or leave the motorway were trying to avoid the tolls and using junctions either side of the toll road and using the N332 - they added to normal traffic and so causing a traffic jam.

Some useful tips:

Watch out for traffic lights, which are invariably positioned very high up in the blinding sun.
Take care at pedestrian crossings, especially if you are the pedestrian as cars will rarely stop at them.
Be extra careful of motorbikes or scooters - they don't seem to follow ANY rules.
On dual carriageways vehicles may overtake on whichever side they feel like and some cars drive without lights when it is dark.
Give way to traffic from the left, especially at roundabouts.
Avoid parking where the kerb is painted yellow, red or white ? or where there is a no parking sign.

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Driving in Spain