Motoring in Spain can be daunting if you are used to driving on the left.

Remember the motoring laws -failure to wear seat belts can result in an on the spot fine.

Motoring in Spain

It has to be said that generally speaking the standard of driving in Spain by the Spanish leaves a lot to be desired. For many and in particular some of the younger generation, owning a car is more than just a form of transportation, it is a status symbol and a means of expression. Machoism often prevails and sometimes to the extreme. A few years ago the notion that driving in the wrong direction on a particular stretch of the motorway was regarded as some kind of crazy challenge! Fortunately this trend seems to have disappeared over recent years, however crossing continuous white lines, and overtaking on blind bends still has some appeal to a minority.  Having said all this, the fact that the roads are used by many different nationalities means that the Spanish are not alone at the bottom of the driving standards league.

It is not the intention of this article to describe the highway-code in any detail however; it's worth remembering that unless there is a sign giving traffic on one road priority over traffic on another then the rule is to give way to traffic approaching from the right. If you have spent your life driving in the UK its worth remembering when driving a left hand drive vehicle to maintain your driving position in the centre of the road and not in the kerb particularly when driving on quiet or deserted roads.

Zebra crossings are treated with some scorn by the average Spanish motorist, pedestrians may well have the right to cross the road but it may mean side stepping the traffic as he or she does so. Surprisingly they are often a good second choice when it comes to finding a parking space in a busy town, but beware of the tow truck!

Over recent years many junctions previously controlled by traffic lights have been replaced by roundabouts. At least this seems to be the case in and around many of the costal town of the Costa Blanca. Whilst there introduction may have eased traffic congestion it has to be said that they are the host of many accidents. Lane discipline - who gives way to who, all seems to be rather vague in the minds of most Spanish motorist who it seems tend to adopt the - every man for himself - attitude. If you have just arrived from the UK the notion of driving around the roundabout the wrong way takes a little getting used to, therefore take especially good care when negotiating these potential hazards.

It has been compulsory to wear seat belts in new vehicles since the law was changed in 1994 and failure to wear them can result in an on the spot fine. Despite this you will often see people blatantly flaunting the law, possibly another expression or defiance or machoism?. Insurance companies tend to be particularly unsympathetic when accidents occur and the injured occupants of the vehicles involved are found not to be wearing seat belts. The rule is, if seat belts are fitted in the vehicle then they must be worn at all times and this rule applies equally to rear seat passengers.