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

Article 58. General rules.
1. Vehicles that have to give way to other traffic must not move off or continue on their way, until they have assured that they will not force other vehicles with priority to abruptly modify their direction or speed, must indicate with sufficient notice, by their manner of driving and especially by the gradual reduction of their speed that indeed they are going to give way (LST Art 24,1).
2. In all cases the rules of this chapter that regulate priority drivers must consider the rules described in the previous section.
3. Infractions of this Article are considered serious offences (LST Art 65.4.c).

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