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

General rules and right of way of cyclists

Article 64. General rules and right of way of cyclists.
As a general rule, and whenever their routes cross, drivers have right of way on the road and hard shoulder with respect to pedestrians and animals, except in the cases described in Articles 65 and 66, where they must let them pass, stopping if necessary. Bicycle riders have right of way with respect to motor vehicles:
a) When using a cycle lane, cycle crossing or hard shoulder properly signed.
b) When a motor vehicle turns right or left to enter another road, and a cyclist is near.
c) When circulating as a group and the first cyclist has started crossing or has entered a roundabout.
In other cases the general rules apply on right of way between vehicles.

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