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

Driving on autopistas and autovías

Article 38. Driving on autopistas and autovías.
1. Draft vehicles, bicycles, mopeds and vehicles for people of reduced mobility are prohibited from autopistas and autovías (LST Art 18,1).
Despite the arrangements in the previous paragraph, bicycle riders over 14 years may use the hard shoulder on autovías, unless prohibited for reasons of road safety by means of the corresponding signals. This prohibition will be complemented by a panel which indicates the alternative route.
2. Anyone who for emergency reasons has to drive on an autopista or autovía at an abnormally reduced speed according to Article 49,1 must abandon it at the next exit.
3. Special vehicles or vehicles covered by the special transport regime that exceed the maximum masses or dimensions established in the RGV may exceptionally use autopistas and autovías when indicated in their complementary authorization, and those that do not exceed the masses or dimensions may do so provided they can travel at 60kph minimum on the level and meet the conditions indicated in Annex III.
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