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 to certain vehicles

Article 148. Traffic lights reserved to certain vehicles.
When traffic lights display the illuminated silhouette of a cycle, their indications exclusively refer to cycles and mopeds.
When, exceptionally, the traffic light consists of an illuminated white strip on black ground, their indications exclusively refer to trams and fixed-route buses, unless a lane exists reserved for buses or buses, taxis and other vehicles; in such case, they only refer to traffic in that lane. The meaning of these traffic lights are as follows:
a) A steady horizontal white strip prohibits crossing as if it were a steady red light.
b) A steady vertical white strip allows one to proceed ahead.
c) A steady diagonal white strip, to left or right, indicates respectively that crossing is allowed to turn left or right.
d) A flashing vertical or diagonal white strip indicates the affected vehicles must stop as if it were a steady yellow light.

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