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

Faculties of drivers of high-priority vehicles

Article 68. Faculties of drivers of high-priority vehicles.
1. Drivers of high-priority vehicles must observe the rules of this regulation, although where assured that they do not endanger any road user, they need not obey the rules of titles II, III and IV, except for orders and signals of traffic officers, which they must always obey.
Drivers of these vehicles may also exceptionally, when travelling along an autopista or autovía in an emergency and not jeopardizing the safety of any user, make U-turns, reverse, travel against the traffic flow on the hard shoulder, use the median strip or emergency crossing areas.
Traffic officers may use or put their vehicles in the part of the road that is necessary when helping other users or traffic. They will also determine in each circumstance the location of emergency service vehicles or other special services.
2. High-priority vehicles include police, fire service, civil protection and rescue, and medical assistance (public or private), in emergency service and whose drivers warn of their presence by means of flashing lights desbribed in Article 173 and sirens described in the RGV.
Exceptionally to the previous paragraph, drivers of the high-priority vehicles may use flashing lights separately without sirens where this does not involve any danger to other users.
3. Infractions of this Article are considered serious offences (LST Art 65.4.c).

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