Introduction

In recent years major motorway construction covering over 8,000km has been completed. They can be spectacular roads passing through mountains, across valleys, rivers or ravines. Madrid is now connected to all its provincial capitals by fast road communication and it is also possible to drive from France to Gibraltar by motorway. It fact it will soon be possible to drive by motorway from Perth in Scotland to Lisbon in Portugal through France and Spain. Some of the newer motorways are toll roads (autopistas de peajes) which can be expensive.

Driving is still an enjoyable experience in many rural areas (outside the Spanish holiday time of August) when it is possible to drive for hours without seeing another motorist. Driving in Spain’s major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona is no different from other major cities in Europe and not for the faint-hearted.

Unfortunately Spain has one of the worst accident records in Europe with over 5,500 deaths and over 1.6 million accidents per annum. Around 40 per cent of fatal accidents involve drivers over the alcohol limit. Spanish motorists do drive ridiculously fast.

Roads

Spain’s motorways are known as autopistas (A roads) or autovias (E for European roads). Both are characterised by distinctive blue signposting. Autopistas are toll roads found on some short sections of motorway which have been built by commercial contractors or for expensive shortcuts over difficult terrain.

Other major roads in Spain are identified by the sign red de carreteras del estado (state road network) being carreteras nacionales and signified by the letter N on maps. These roads tend to be busy, single lane roads, often taking traffic more suited to toll roads. Secondary routes are the narrower carreteras comarcales (letter C) and minor roads, carretera autonomica, are denoted by the initials of the province followed by a number.

On major roads each kilometre is marked with a number showing the distance from Madrid or, in the case of provinces, from a provincial capital. These kilometre markers are often used as convenient meeting points, to establish the location of a building or even a postal address.

The speed limits are:

autopistas	120 km/h
autovias	120 km/h
carreteras nacionale	90 km/h
carreteras comarcales	60 km/h
carreteras autonomica	50 km/h, or as signposted

Driving Differences

The most obvious differences are of course left-hand drive cars and driving on the right-hand side of the road. There are other differences:

• Going around roundabouts in an anti-clockwise direction.

• If you find you are going in the wrong direction on a motorway, you can go back the other way when the sign cambio de sentido appears.
• When trying to turn left on a busy road, it may be necessary to turn right first and then cross the carriageway.
• The sequence of traffic lights (semaforos) is red, green, amber and back to red.
• Two flashing amber lights means ‘slow down, danger ahead’.
• Respect the narrow inside lane, it is for scooters.
• All vehicle documents (or copies) such as insurance details, car registration and technical ITV sheets (see later) should be kept in a car for inspection by police if so required.
• Motorists must carry two approved red warning triangles, a full set of spare bulbs and fuses and a reflective vest. It is advisable (but not mandatory) to carry a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit.

 

One pleasing difference is the cost of fuel. Gasolina (petrol), gasoleo (diesel) and gasolina sin plomo (unleaded petrol) are available everywhere at prices 35 per cent below the most expensive European price. The number of filling stations is increasing rapidly. They also sell newspapers, food and snacks.

Motorway services vary in standard and frequency. On new autovias they are of a high standard open 24 hours per day. On older roads the unsuspecting driver will be directed to a town or village where fuel, food, toilets and sometimes beds are available.