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

Positioning of the vehicle

Article 92. Positioning of the vehicle.
1. Stopping and parking is done by positioning the vehicle in parallel to the side of the road. Exceptionally, other positioning is allowed when the characteristics of the road or other circumstances make it advisable.
2. Drivers who stop or park must do so such that they allow the best use of the remaining available space.
3. When getting out of a motor vehicle or off a moped, the driver must observe in addition, where applicable, the following rules:
a) To turn off the engine and remove the ignition key and, if leaving the vehicle, to take the necessary precautions to prevent its unauthorized use.
b) Put on the parking brake.
c) In a vehicle provided with a gearbox, to leave it placed in first gear, on an uphill slope, and in reverse, on a downhill slope, or, if applicable, in the ‘park’ position.
d) For vehicles of more than 3,500 kg MAM, buses or articulated vehicles stopping or parking in a place with a significant gradient, the driver must, in addition leave it properly chocked, by means of positioning wedges, or other suitable items such as stones, or by pointing one of the streered wheels at the curb of the sidewalk, angling them towards the center of the road if pointing uphill, and towards the outside if pointing downhill. Chocks must be removed from the road before moving off.

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