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

Non high-priority vehicles in emergency service

Article 70. Non high-priority vehicles in emergency service.
1. If, as a result of specially serious circumstances, the driver of a non high-priority vehicle is required, without being able to resort to another means, to carry out a service normally reserved to high-priority vehicles, they must ensure that other users are aware of the special situation whilst travelling by means of using the horn intermittently and using the hazard lights, if available or waving a handkerchief or similar procedure.
2. Drivers referred to above must respect the traffic rules, above all at intersections, and other users of the road will abide by the arrangements in Article 69.
3. At any time, traffic officers may demand justification of the circumstances referred to in section 1.
4. Infractions of this Article are considered serious offences (LST Art 65.4.c).

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