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.

Thursday 12 July 2007

Distance between vehicles

Article 54. Distance between vehicles.
1. Drivers must leave sufficient space between them and the vehicle in front that allows them to stop in case of abrupt braking without colliding, considering especially the speed and the conditions of adhesion and braking. Cyclists in a group do not need to maintain such separation but must maintain attention, in order to avoid collisions amongst them (LST Art 20,2).
2. In addition to the previous section, the separation must be sufficient to allow the following driver to be overtaken in safety, unless idicating to overtake, except cyclists who travel in groups. Vehicles with a MAM over 3,500 kg and vehicles and vehicle combinations of more than 10m long must keep a minimum separation of 50m (LST Art 20,3).
3. The arrangements in the previous section do not apply:
a) In town.
b) Where overtaking is prohibited.
c) Where there is more than one lane in each direction.
d) When traffic is so saturated that it does not allow overtaking (LST Art 20,4).
4. Infractions of this Article are considered serious offences (LST Art 65.4.c).

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