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

Minimum speeds in town and outside town

Article 49. Minimum speeds in town and outside town.
1. The normal progress of other vehicles must not be obstructed by travelling at abnormally reduced speeds without justified cause. Therefore, driving on autopistas and autovías is prohibited at a speed less than 60 kph, and on other roads, at a speed less than half of the maximum limit for each category of vehicle in this chapter, whether or not in the presence of other vehicles.
2. Vehicles may drive at below the minimum speed limit if special vehicles and vehicles in the special transport regime or when traffic, the vehicle or the road prevent driving at a speed over the minimum without hazarding traffic, as well as where protecting or supporting other vehicles to whose speed the accompanying vehicle must adapt. In these cases the support vehicles must display signals V-21 or V-22, appropriate to Article 173.
3. If a vehicle cannot reach the required minimum speed and danger of collision exists, the hazard lights must be used whilst driving.
4. Infractions of this Article are serious offences, (LST Art 65.4.c).

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