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

Doors

Article 114. Doors.
1. It is forbidden to leave open the vehicle doors, to open them before the vehicle has stopped or to get in or out without having previously checked that it does not endanger or obstruct other users, especially bicycle riders (LST Art 45).
2. As a general rule, the occupants must enter and leave the vehicle by the side next to the edge of the road and only when the vehicle is stopped.
3. No unauthorized person may open the doors of public transport vehicles, nor may they close them at stops, obstructing the boarding of passengers.

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