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.

Wednesday 18 July 2007

Conditions of reduced visibility

Article 106. Conditions of reduced visibility.
1. It is obligatory to use lights when meteorological or environmental conditions exist that significantly reduce visibility, such as fog, heavy rain, falling snow, clouds of smoke or dust or any other analogous circumstance (LST Art 43).
2. In the above cases front fog lights or headlights must be used.
Front fog lights can be used independently or with headlights.
Front fog light may only be used in the above cases or on narrow roads with many bends, i.e. having a road width of 6.50m or less, signed with signals indicating a series of bends, regulated in Article 149.
Rear fog lights may only be used when the meteorological or environmental conditions are especially unfavorable, such as thick fog, very heavy rain, heavily falling snow or dense clouds of dust or smoke.
3. Travelling without the appropriate lights in situations of reduced visibility is a serious offence (LST Art 65.4.e).

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