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.

Friday 13 July 2007

Overtaking on the left. Exceptions

Article 82. Overtaking on the left. Exceptions.
1. On all roads subject to the RGC, as a general rule, overtaking must take place on the left of the overtaken vehicle (LST Art 32,1).
2. By exception, and given sufficient space, overtaking may take place on the right though adopting the maximum precautions, when the driver of the vehicle to be overtaken is clearly indicating his intention to change direction of the left or to stop on that side, as well as, on roads with two way traffic, tram cars using the central zone (LST Art 32,2).
3. Within towns, on the roads that have at least two lanes reserved for traffic in the same direction, delimited by longitudinal marks, overtaking on the right is allowed on condition that the driver of the vehicle that does so previously checks that he can do so without danger to other users.
4. In all the cases where overtaking involves lateral displacement, the maneuver must be so indicated as described in Article 109.
5. Infractions of this Article are considered serious offences (LST Art 65.4.c).

No comments: