Driving in Spain.

Contrary to what you may see on the roads in Spain, driving here is NOT:
1. Just like the UK but on the other side,
2. A free-for-all with no rules, or rules to be ignored if you're local.

The Guardia Civil and police can and do enforce traffic regulations, and can really spoil your holiday.

Inspired by Brian Deller's excellent "Motoring in Spain", this site tells you what the traffic laws are in Spain. Unlike the UK Highway Code, they are not guidelines, they are fixed... and to be obeyed.

Most Spanish road traffic law is contained in the LSV (Ley de Seguridad Vial), on which is based the RGC (Reglamentación General de Circulación) which also has the force of law. Allied to this is the RGV (Reglamentación General de Vehículos) which covers construction and use of motor vehicles.

This site is still under construction and will be quite large (over 170 articles for the RGC alone). The best place to start is the RGC index and the glossary. The RGV, and LSV will be added later when translation has been checked.

Friday 1 June 2007

Signaling of obstacles and dangers.

Article 5. Signaling of obstacles and dangers.
1. Whoever creates on the road some obstacle or danger must remove it as quickly as possible, and must take the necessary measures in the process so that it is signalled to other users and so that traffic is not impeded (LST Art 10,3).
2. Obstacles in the road will not be considered as such in pedestrian crossings, provided they meet the regulations of the Ministry of Public Works and the Economy and that the safety of users, in particular cyclists, is guaranteed.
3. In order to signal the presence in the road of any obstacle or danger, the person causing it must signal it in an effective way, at all times, in accordance with the arrangements in Articles 130,3, 140 and 173.
4. All works that require the services of mechanical help, health or any other type of intervention must be governed by the principles of use of the suitable and strictly necessary resources in each case. The competent authority will decide the presence and permanence in the area of all any personnel and equipment that is essential and they will ensure the absence of unauthorised from the works; in addition, they will indicate in each case where emergency service vehicles or other special services are to be located.
5. The actions of the emergency services, as well those of recovery and breakdown services and those of highway maintenance, will try to cause the least possible disturbance to other traffic, occupying the minimum amount of road and following at all times the instructions of the competent authority. The behavior of drivers and users in case of emergency will be in accordance with Articles 69, 129 and 130 and, in particular, drivers of emergency service vehicles, in accordance with the arrangements in Articles 67, 68, 111 and 112.
6. Stopping or parking of the vehicles belonging to the mentioned services will take place so that it does not create a new danger, and where it causes the least disruption to the traffic.
7. Stopping or parking in places other than those designated by traffic officers are treated as serious offences in accordance with the (LST Art 65.4.d).

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