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

Traffic lights reserved for pedestrians

Article 145. Traffic lights reserved for pedestrians.
The meaning these traffic lights is as follows:
a) Steady red light, in the form of a standing pedestrian, indicates to pedestrians that they must not start to cross the road.
b) Steady green light, in the form of a walking pedestrian, indicates to pedestrians that they may start to cross the road. When the light starts to flash, it means that pedestrians already on the crossing may finish and that the light will change to red.

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