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

Prohibited places

Article 94. Prohibited places.
1. It is forbidden to stop:
a) On bends and gradients with reduced visibility, on their approaches and in tunnels, underpasses and stretches of roads governed by the signal “Tunnel".
b) On level crossings, cyclist crossings and pedestrian crossings.
c) In lanes or parts of the road reserved exclusively for determined users.
d) At intersections and approaches if the turn becomes difficult for other vehicles, or on interurban roads, if danger from lack of visibility is caused.
e) On street car rails or so near to them that street cars can get stuck.
f) Where it is reduces the visibility of signals to users who need them for maneuvering.
g) On autopistas and autovías, except in areas provided.
h) In lanes reserved for the exclusive use of urban public transport, or in lanes reserved for cyclists.
i) In places reserved for parking and stopping exclusively by urban public transport.
j) In places signed for the exclusive use of the disabled and pedestrian crossings (LST Art 39,1).
2. It is prohibited to park in the following cases:
a) In all situations in the previous section in which stopping is prohibited.
b) In places provided by the municipal authority for parking with time limitation without displaying an authorization or when parking the vehicle in excess of the maximum time allowed by the municipal ordinance.
c) In places signed for load and unloading.
d) In places signed for exclusive use of the disabled.
e) On sidewalks, pedestrian precincts and other places provided for pedestrians.
f) In front of official “keep clear” signs.
g) Double parking (LST Art 39,2).
3. Stopping or parking in the places enumerated in paragraphs a), d), e), f), g) and i) of section 1, on level crossings and in lanes reserved for use by urban public transport are considered serious offences (LST Art 65.4.d).

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