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TRANSPORT
48
Driving
continued from page 47
Certificates of non-residence don't exist in
the UK, but you can obtain them from the
Commisaries in all main towns or at the
consulate office in Spain.
Residents have six months after obtaining
their 'Residencia' to sort out legally 'importing'
their vehicle. It's a tricky form-filling
process which takes a few months and
costs about 12 percent of the value of your
car.
SPANISH ROADS
The quality varies from excellent on the
main arteries to dire out in the sticks - and
the standard of driving is equally erratic.
Road deaths are a constant fixture on the
Spanish television news, with 14.3 deaths
per 100,000 population - more than double
that of the UK.
You only have to experience a Spanish
motorway (autopista) to see the problem.
Machismo still rules among male drivers
in Spain and a favourite game is to intimidate
anyone in the fast lane by driving
right up to your bumper to force you to
pull across into a slower lane.
Motorways have an 'A' or 'E' prefix to the
road number and are often toll roads. For
short distances you pay at a booth (peaje)
as you exit the road (some toll roads allow
you to collect a ticket at the start for
longer journeys, so you pay the total when
you exit).
Useable lanes will have a green arrow,
closed lanes will be indicated with a red
cross. Choose the lane with an attendant if
you are not paying with a credit card or
exact change.
Motorways and dual carriageways
(autovías) - fast roads but not necessarily
with a central reservation - have a 100-
120kph speed limit as marked. Main roads
(carreteras nacionales) have an N or CN
RULES OF THE ROAD
DO...
• expect the unexpected. The received
wisdom is to expect the unexpected.
• Watch out for traffic lights, which are
invariably positioned very high up in the
blinding sun.
• take care at pedestrian crossings, especially
if you are the pedestrian as cars will
rarely stop at them. On dual carriageways
vehicles may overtake on whichever side
they feel like and some cars drive without
lights when it is dark.
• carry all documentation (passport, driving
licence, vehicle registration form) at all
times. You can be also be fined for not carrying
two red warning triangles, spare
bulbs, fire extinguisher and first aid kit.
• give way to traffic from the left, especially
at roundabouts.
DON'T...
• be surprised when a car indicating left
turns right or doesn't indicate then turns,
or stops without warning in the middle of
the road, then takes off again apparently
oblivious to anyone behind.
• pull into the middle of the road to turn
left if there is a solid line in the road.
There are often special lanes for this, signposted
cambio de sentido.
• drink and drive - the limits are very low,
the penalties very high and breathaliser
tests are common.
• speed - fines are calculated at €6 per km
over the speed limit.
• drive while talking on a mobile. Fines
are heavy.
before the road number and country roads
(carreteras comarcales) begin with a C and
have lower speed limits applied (though
many drivers feel this is discretionary).
The speed limit on country roads is 90kph,
on urban roads 50kph and in residential
areas 20-50kph as marked.
For road information, tel. 900 123 505 or visit
www.dgt.es.
SPAIN EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE WWW.EXPATICA.COM