Driving on Motorways in Spain

In Spain there are 15,500 kilometres of motorways (autopistas and autovías) which account for 80% of all annual kilometres travelled and around 25% of all deaths and serious injuries in road traffic collisions. In 2023, the last year for which complete figures are available, 345 people died and 964 were seriously injured in incidents that occurred on these roads.

Designed to be a more sterile environment than secondary roads, vehicles are able to drive at higher speeds due to the longer and wider layout, and although autopistas and autovías are technically different, they have very similar characteristics, with both directions of traffic separated by a central reservation, and practically identical traffic rules.

Never Exceed the Speed Limit

Respecting the maximum speed limit is essential. In 2023, there were 135 deaths and almost 400 serious injuries in road exits on motorways and dual carriageways, a type of incident directly linked to speeding and distractions: at 120 km/h, the maximum legal limit allowed for cars and motorcycles among other vehicles, it may take up to 150 metres to stop the vehicle. Buses and trucks have lower limits (100 and 90 km/h respectively). And mopeds, vehicles for people with reduced mobility and animal-drawn vehicles are prohibited from entering, as they do not reach the appropriate speeds. The speed limit does vary at times, such as passing through cities, for example, and so it is still important to monitor the signs and signals closely.

Allow Vehicles to Join Safely

Vehicles travelling on motorways have priority over those merging. But the law also establishes the obligation to facilitate merging whenever possible and safe, in order to make traffic safer and more fluid, by changing to the left lane, looking and signalling first, if it is unoccupied or simply lifting the foot off the accelerator pedal for a few seconds. To do this, observation and anticipation are essential.

Joining and Leaving a Motorway

When joining a motorway use the lane to accelerate to match the speed of the vehicles on the main carriageway so as not to hinder the flow when joining. When leaving, use the exit lane to reduce your speed. Always looking and indicating any move.

Drive on the Right

It is essential to comply with this rule on motorways: drive in the right-hand lane and use the rest for overtaking. This could avoid many dangerous situations resulting from unnecessary lane changes or overtaking on the right. The normal driving lane is the right-hand lane.

Maintain a Safe Distance

It is one of the most important and least respected rules of driving. All you have to do is observe the gaps between vehicles that many drivers leave on the road. At 120 km/h, two to three seconds of separation between vehicles is necessary – counting 1001, 1002, 1003… from a fixed point – to drive without risk of collision if, for example, an unexpected braking or sudden stop were to occur.

Reversing is Prohibited

Reversing, U-turns, stopping and parking are completely prohibited on these roads and should only be done in designated areas (exits, rest areas and service areas). If you miss your exit, carry on and leave at the next one.

Pedestrians are Not Allowed

Pedestrians are prohibited from accessing and walking on motorways. In 2023, 57 pedestrians died and 47 were hospitalised as a result of being run over on motorways, including drivers who got out of their vehicles in an emergency. For this reason, the use of warning triangles in no longer mandatory on motorways.

Motorway Emergencies

When an emergency requires driving at less than 60 km/h on a motorway, you must leave the road as soon as possible using the first exit, in order not to become a danger to others: a stopped vehicle, even on the hard shoulder, poses a potential risk of collision for other vehicles. If your car says ‘enough’ and cannot continue moving, stop on the right-hand hard shoulder, signal your position with the hazard lights and the V-16 signal, and place the passengers in a safe place off the road whenever possible.