Overloading the Car: A Holiday Hazard
As thoughts turn to beach days and holidays, it’s common to see cars packed…
As thoughts turn to beach days and holidays, it’s common to see cars packed…
When driving in Spain, understanding pedestrian priority is crucial for safety and avoiding fines. This guide clarifies Spanish traffic laws, including less-known rules about giving way at junctions and when crossing pavements, ensuring you know exactly when pedestrians have the right of way.
Spotting the blue rectangular S-28 sign means you’re entering a residential zone – an area where pedestrians, including children playing, have priority over vehicles. You must slow down to a maximum of 10 km/h, be extra alert, and only park in designated areas. This sign signals a significant change in traffic rules designed for pedestrian safety.
With nearly 80% of Spaniards experiencing some form of vision problem, and drivers relying on their eyes for 80% of driving information, good eyesight is paramount for road safety. Vision often degrades gradually, making regular eye tests crucial. If you wear corrective lenses, always use them while driving and consider progressive lenses for dashboard clarity. Be cautious driving at night or in poor conditions if you experience difficulties, and always reduce speed, as higher speeds limit your field of vision. Remember, certain medications and even dilated pupils can impair your ability to drive safely. Good visual acuity, field, and contrast sensitivity are vital for distinguishing road hazards and can be affected by various conditions like cataracts or diabetes. Always ensure your vision meets legal requirements for driving, and keep a spare pair of glasses handy if you wear them.
The Spanish Government has approved an update to its official catalogue of traffic signs, effective July 1, 2025. This reform adapts signage to modern social, technological, and mobility changes, introducing new signs for personal mobility vehicles, updating pictograms, and removing obsolete ones. The gradual physical replacement of signs aims for a unified, clearer, and more inclusive road signage system across the country.
In 2024, 286 motorcyclists died in 278 fatal accidents on intercity roads, contributing to a total of 2,385 motorcyclist fatalities over the last decade. The DGT highlights that motorcycle accidents are complex due to factors like rider vulnerability, reduced visibility, environmental influences (rain, wind, road surfaces), and other drivers’ errors.