New Spanish Driving Laws

kimajy

Well-Known Member
Just to be on your guard ....

New Spanish Traffic Laws Come in to Effect on 9 May 2014
May 8th, 2014

On the grounds that ‘ignorance of the law is no excuse’, all drivers in Spain are advised immediately to familiarise themselves with the detail of the new traffic laws which are coming into effect on 9 May 2014 (Ley 6/2014 modificando la Ley sobre Tráfico, Circulación de Vehículos a Motor y Seguridad Vial 339/1990); a mere 21 pages!

Among the new provisions are the following:

1. Speeding fines apply for exceeding the limit by just 1kph! On some motorways, the speed limit is being increased from 120kph to 130kph, but in many towns, the speed limit is being reduced from 30kph to 20kph.
2. If the Guardia Civil observe a motoring offence and note the vehicle registration number, this provides sufficient evidence to prosecute- no need for them to stop vehicles.
3. A minimum fine of 1,000 Euros will be payable by drivers caught driving whilst double the drink drive limit or above; or in all cases for reoffending drink drivers; and drivers under the influence of drugs.
4. The Guardia Civil can seize any vehicle carrying children without legally compliant child seats.
5. The very specific rules as to where children must sit in the vehicle (according to age/ height) must be observed, otherwise drivers face heavy fines.
6. Cyclists under 16 years of age must wear helmets.
7. Drivers have much higher duties to ensure the safety of cyclists of all ages.
8. Speed camera/ radar detectors are prohibited.
9. An EU Directive is to be implemented so that driving offences committed in one EU country are reported to the EU country of registration of the vehicle in question.
10. Much stricter rules are being implemented for the Spanish registration of foreign registered vehicles kept in Spain.

The above is by no means exhaustive. As can be seen, the new rules are far reaching. Knowledge of the details and observation of the requirements in practice is of fundamental importance.

It is clear from the increased powers to prosecute and fine drivers, that the Spanish Authorities ‘mean business’ with these important legal changes.

Please SHARE this with your friends and contacts who drive in Spain, to help them to be lawful (and to avoid fines!).
 
On the 1st point about fines for exceeding the speed limit by 1 kph. Car speedometers are only accurate to within a certain % hence the common occurrence of sat navs and speedometers not correlating so 1kph seems a bit concerning for all who drive in Spain.
 
On the 1st point about fines for exceeding the speed limit by 1 kph. Car speedometers are only accurate to within a certain % hence the common occurrence of sat navs and speedometers not correlating so 1kph seems a bit concerning for all who drive in Spain.

I wonder if this enforceable "limit" will mean that I wont get headlight flashes from behind, especially near junctions on the motorway from impatient local drivers. When I am sticking to the limit!

So as for speed, best practice is to know the limit and take off 5kph and have that as your maximum of maximums. Its so easy to go 3/4 over the limit without realising.

I think to fine for 1kph ovewr the limit means one thing only - Stealth Tax!!
 
obviously last weekend there were already big policia-controls at playadenbossa where almost all cars had to stop,looking in trunk and that bullshit ..
probably training for ush/space/etcpp-opening
 
obviously last weekend there were already big policia-controls at playadenbossa where almost all cars had to stop,looking in trunk and that bullshit ..
probably training for ush/space/etcpp-opening

Never get anything like that in San Antonio.
 
Most likely they will now going forward, especially if they clock you rather than pull you over for a fine. The days of 140kph back & forth between San An & PDB might have to be conceded as "the good old days". Up to twice the legal limit you give 'em about 600 Euros (else 1,000 Euros + or so over that) and they generally let you off with a warning etc. If you get stopped and you've been really quaffing it then (as in UK) it's a spell in the cell and a whole load of grief :rolleyes:.
 
is there anything like Halio or Uber on the island?
are they speed cameras?

no - they are cell phone apps that let you order a taxi on demand - the taxi comes right to where you are based on GPS and you don't pay cash - its auto billed to your credit card. we used Uber and Flywheel all the time in LA. Halio is like Flywheel but big in Europe. A service like that would be helpful for say if you are staying in a villa and need a taxi or maybe are are a beach with few/no taxis.
 
^ it is. you can find Uber in most major cities around the world. Halio and Uber are both in London and Barcelona for example. Uber is in most major US cities. Halio is in Madrid but surprisingly Uber doesn't seem to be yet.
 
^ it is. you can find Uber in most major cities around the world. Halio and Uber are both in London and Barcelona for example. Uber is in most major US cities. Halio is in Madrid but surprisingly Uber doesn't seem to be yet.
In Milan too...was talking with a friend of mine to become a part-time driver in Ibiza with him but don't know if there's this kind of service on the island

Here in Italy you can work with Uber during your free-time so imagine doing this in Ibiza
 
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