| If you're planning to drive in Spain, make sure that you | | | | sign-posted in built up areas. This can vary from 20 to |
| have the correct driving licence. If you are from the | | | | 80kph and can change as many as three times within |
| EU, an EU licence (with the ring of stars) or a UK | | | | 500 metres, so keep a look out. In most parts of Spain, |
| licence is acceptable. If your UK licence is the old | | | | you won't find many of the ever intrusive speed |
| paper type, you will need to carry a form of photo ID | | | | cameras but the police do use radar traps. The use of |
| as well. If you're from outside the EU, you will need an | | | | radar detectors is forbidden. In fact it is illegal to even |
| International Driving Licence, obtained in your country of | | | | carry one in your vehicle.A few things to beware of, |
| origin.If you're taking your own vehicle to Spain, ensure | | | | as the police seem to be particularly hot on these:- Do |
| that your insurance is valid for overseas travel and | | | | not cross a solid white line in the centre of the road, |
| that you have current road tax and an MOT or | | | | either to overtake or to turn left.- Always come to a |
| national equivalent. Carry the originals or legally certified | | | | complete standstill at a STOP sign, whether it seems |
| copies of all documents will you, including your | | | | to be necessary or not.- Do not overtake on the inside, |
| passport, which must be valid until after the end of | | | | unless using a designated slip road to leave or enter an |
| your stay.It is mandatory to carry two red warning | | | | autopista.- Do not be tempted to follow the example |
| triangles, a set of spare bulbs and the necessary tools | | | | of the Spanish workmen, who can be seen drinking |
| needed to change them and a spare pair of driving | | | | beer, wine or brandy (or possibly all three) at breakfast |
| glasses, if you use them. If you are hiring a car and the | | | | time (9:30 - 10:30am), at lunch time (1:30 - 3:00pm) and |
| triangles or bulbs are missing or incomplete, insist that | | | | after work (any time after 6:00pm). The blood alcohol |
| the rental company provide them before you take the | | | | limit is 0.5 milligrams per millilitre of blood. If you're caught |
| car. You will also need to take with you or request | | | | drinking and driving, as a foreigner you may lose your |
| from the rental company, booster seats for children as | | | | licence the same day, if your case is rushed through |
| the wearing of seat belts is mandatory for all vehicle | | | | the special courts.- You will often see drivers with a |
| occupants. It is also advisory, though not compulsory, to | | | | mobile phone in one hand and the other waving in the |
| carry a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit.People will tell | | | | air for emphasis (presumably they're steering with their |
| you that you must carry a reflective jacket for each | | | | knees). However, it is NOT legal to use a phone while |
| person in the car. This isn't strictly true, however, it is | | | | driving unless you have a completely hands-free set |
| illegal to get out of your car, other than in urban areas, | | | | (which does not include the use of an ear piece).- Do |
| without wearing one, so if you have a puncture on the | | | | not operate satellite or other navigation systems whilst |
| motorway and no jacket, you have a problem. It is | | | | driving. Pull over to a safe place as you would if you |
| most unlikely, at the time that I write this, that a rental | | | | wanted to read a map.- Children under 12 years of |
| car company will provide reflective jackets.They drive | | | | age may not sit in the front seat.- Motorcycle riders |
| on the right hand side of the road in Spain, in theory | | | | must wear a reflective jacket and a crash helmet. A |
| anyway, and give way to traffic coming from the left, | | | | dipped headlight must be used at all times.Our next |
| especially on roundabouts.Speed limits are generally | | | | article will cover less vital, but nonetheless important |
| 120kph on autopistas (motorways), 100kph on dual | | | | things you should know when driving in Spain. |
| carriageways, 90kph on urban roads and as | | | | |