Andalucía Travel Forum

Hello all,
I've been reading up on the rules of the road in Spain. We'll be staying in Nerja for a month and wanted to know the rules before we go. I've read that when we go to a small town there is a sensor outside of town that detects if you are driving too fast and if so, the light turns red so you have to stop. Can someone please confirm this and explain a little more? My husband and I have more questions but we won't bombard you with all of them at once.
thanks in advance
Jandar

Hi Jandar.
Don´t you worry too much. In many small villages in Spain, specialy those "crossed" by a main road, they have those sensors. It is nothing special, simply the first trafic light in the village will go red, and after a "normal" time it will go green again.

As soon as you enter into a village the speed limit is 50 km/h and I advice you to obey. It is good for the locals that must suffer the road, and it will leave you free of fines in case the police may be hiden to catch you! lol.

Good luck.

As for the rules...we have the same rules as in the rest of the world.

There are many of these across Spain and Portugal. Some are being installed in Italy and France too.
I don't know if such speed traps are also meant to give you a fine other than just turning the light red if you exceed 50 km/h. It happened to me but I received no fines on-site or through the mail.
One thing for sure, other respectful drivers can go mad at you if you cause them to stop and wait!

Yes, the sensors are there. We were wondering for few days why all the lights we were approaching in Spanish and Portuguese towns were changing red, right at front of us.
Finally we realized what was happening and we just try to obey the speed limit sighns little more careful.
Those lights were not annoying really, it make you stop and look around a bit ;=)
Aside of the lights in some small towns there were speed bumps, but they were properly announced, so you knew to slow down for them.
Roads in Spain are in great condition (practically brand new roads).
BE careful on the highways. They are brand new and smoooooth. Many people speed therefore always keep your eyes on the road and on the rear view mirror. When you glide 140-170 km/h it takes loooooooong time to stop.
IF you miss your exit, don't panic, just go to the next one and turn around.
Road signs are pretty much the same as in other countries.
Make sure your vest is in the car (not in the trunk). And make sure you got your vest and the triangle from the rental company.
Once we saw high speed accident on the highway "in the middle of nowhere", Police was there in just few minutes.
Driving through Spain is fantastic. Views are awesome, roads are smooth and easy to navigate.
Have a smooth sailing!!!

Yes we have some in France as well. They are mainly in small places where there may be a school close to the road. Up 'til now no fines are imposed, unless there is some other sort of speed trap there on that day e.g mobile radar or gendarmes with speed binoculars.

I don't know in the South but here (around Barcelona) there are MANY radar speed controls. Radars may be static or mobile in "incognito" police cars. But I never heard there were radar controls tied to these "red lights" that are mostly to avoid cars entering the towns at very high speed.

In any case, be careful as fines for speeding may be very high (from 140 to 520 €). If your rental company receives a fine after your departure they may charge it to your credit card and maybe some "administrative expenses" on top of it

Another thing to watch out for - if you see a nice view, and there's a parking area on the other side of the road, DON'T use it if there is a continuous white line down the middle of the road. You're not allowed to cross the white line. I got caught by a police on a motorbike in northern Cataluna a few years, and got a hefty fine on the spot. Mind you, I don't think it helped that I spoke very little Spanish, and he insisted in speaking in Catalan.

-->Isa,
I didn't mean that there WERE radar linked to these types of lights, and as you so rightly said, they are generally to slow traffic down entering these towns or villages. What IS known here in France is that the "Gendarmerie" do place the binocular type of radar at places where it is quite easy to catch motorists going over the limit. For those that do not know, when you pass any town sign in France, upon entering a town, whether there is a speed limit shown or not it is autmatically 50 kph maximum. Of course if a limit of 30 kph etc, is shown, that has priority.

Paul, my comment was not a "against" yours, I wanted to say that here is a similar situation than in France

Andrew, don't you have "continuous white lines" in the UK? I can't remember now (I did not drive in the UK since about 20 years... OMG I feel old!!!) I though these continuous (can't cross /overtake) or discontinuous (you can't cross/overtake) were "universal"

Thanks guys. Now for my next questions (I warned you I had a few). 1. On drivingabroad.co.uk it says we need 2 warning triangles, replacement bulbs(for headlights?) & a reflective jacket (is this the vest Jawnuta mentioned?). Do rental places provide these? 2. Can you explain further - during the day you must beep the horn to pass a car and at night you must use your headlights to pass? Signaling with your right blinker to acknowledge the driver behind you wants to pass you?

Hi,
Nowadays in Spain, you must have the 2 triangles, bulbs and the hi-viz vests, 1 (one) per person.The hire company will either provide these or be able to sell them to you (the vests), the triangles and bulbs should come as obligatory with the car. Not sure about tooting the horn, Belsaita will let you know on that. Putting the R/H indicator on means you have seen them behind you wanting to overtake, and you can see that there is enough distance for them to do so, NOT before. Similarly, if you see someone wants to overtake and there is something coming, you can put your L/H indicator on to block them. Use this one with prudence though.
Cheers

2. Can you explain further - during the day you must beep the horn to pass a car and at night you must use your headlights to pass? Signaling with your right blinker to acknowledge the driver behind you wants to pass you?
- Your # 2 question .... NO, NO and NO!!!!
Every country has its own unwritten rules of the road. In one country you blink for this in another for that.
It is all confusing. That is why in most of the world the WRITTEN RULES are pretty much the same.
Obey the WRITTEN RULES, don't start blinking and honking and waiving your windshield wipers (lol) because you will just confuse others and distract yourself.
Be considered and defensive driver, always watch your rear view mirror and stay to the right when not passing.

I do agree.... Jandar, no idea from where you have get this "info" about blinking and horning!

I read this on the web site I mentioned earlier - honestly. I am glad I asked. We would have felt (and looked) rather foolish trying to explain what we were doing to your police (lol,lol,lol). My husband is quite relieved.

I had a look at the drivingabroad.co.uksite and it seems to be a mix of some good, some out of date and some inaccurate/strange info

This one is better:
http://www.idealspain.com/Pages/Information/DrivingSpain.htm

It's probably worth to mention that sometimes incoming vehicles - opposite direction - repeatedly flash their headlights. It's a warning sign that in the majority of cases indicates the presence of the police ahead of you.
In such case, keep your speed at bay and behave.

Isa, white lines are a bit different in this country. We have double white lines where you have single ones. One or other of the white lines might be a broken line. The rule states

"Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. "

So in this country I could cross the line and pull off the road.

Hi Andrew, I understand now. I guess that when I was driving in the UK I just did not cross any continuous line and I kept driving to somewhere I could cross/turn/whatever ;)

Here in Spain, as my driving teacher used to say, better imagine the continuous white lines (single, double or on your side) are a wall.

What side of the road do you drive on?

Right