THE HARD SHOULDER

Article 36. Drivers obliged to use it.
1. Drivers of draft vehicles, special vehicles with MAM not exceeding 3,500kg, cycles, mopeds, vehicles for people of reduced mobility or vehicles following cyclists [Title V, Annex II], where no specially designated lane exists, must use the right-hand hard shoulder if passable and wide enough. If not, they can use that part of the road necessary. Drivers of vehicles of a MAM not exceeding 3,500kg that, for emergency reasons, proceed at reduced speed that would seriously hold up traffic.
On prolonged decents with bends, when safety allows, bicycle riders may abandon the hard shoulder and use the necessary part of the right-hand lane.
2. Vehicles described in the previous section may not proceed in parallel except for bicycles, which may do so two abreast, keeping to the right-hand side of the road and in single file on stretches with limited visibility and in traffic jams. On autovías they can only use the hard shoulder.
Exceptionally, when the hard shoulder is passable and sufficient, mopeds may use it two abreast. In both of the last two cases, use of the main carriageway is prohibited.
3. Drivers of any of the vehicles detailed in section 1 except bicycles may not overtake if the duration of the manoeuvre involves the vehicles proceeding in parallel for more than 15 seconds or 200m.
4. Arrangements for historic vehicles are set out in the specific regulation.
5. Infractions of paragraph 3 are serious offences (LST Art 65.4.c)).