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.

Monday, 23 July 2007

Obeying signals

Article 132. Obeying signals.
1. All road users are required to obey the traffic signals that establish an obligation or a prohibition and to adapt their behavior to messages from the rest of the prescribed signals that are on the roads on which they travel.
To this end, when the signal imposes an obligation to stop, the driver may not move the vehicle thus stopped until he has fulfilled the prescription that the signal establishes.
At dynamic tolls or telepeajes, vehicles that use them must have the means that allows their use (LST Art 53,1).
2. Except for special circumstances so justify, users must obey the prescriptions indicated by signals, even though they appear to contradict the rules of traffic behavior (LST Art 53,2).
3. Users must obey the indications of traffic lights and vertical traffic signals located immediately to their right of the road or lane, and if they do not exist there and they are trying to turn left or go straight ahead, those located immediately to the left.
If traffic lights or vertical traffic signals exist with indications different to right and left, those trying to turn left or go straight on must only obey those immediately to their left.

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