DRIVING AND CYCLING

There are some traffic rules in Spain that may not apply in your home country. Some of these rules can lead to fines if not adhered to. these fines can run up to hundreds of euros, which often have to be paid immediately in the case of foreign license plates. If you have a Spanish license plate or if you are allowed to pay the fine at the police office, do this within 14 or 20 days so that in most cases you will receive a 50% discount.

Many Spaniards do not know the traffic rules below, so many foreigners driving around in Spain often do not know anything about it. Yet they are all listed in the Reglamento General de Circulación. The Spanish traffic service DGT and Guardia Civil check a lot on the Spanish roads during the summer, looking at, among other things, drink and drug use (not mentioned below because it is logical that this is not allowed), the car papers, whether the car has been inspected, etc. The officers do this not only on the road itself at traffic controls, but also from the air by means of helicopters or drones, whereby the police can see and record every detail of what someone is doing behind the wheel.

Not wearing a cycling helmet while cycling can get you a fine.

Driving with slippers or stiletto heels on or barefoot

In the summer it is quite normal to drive to the beach with the slippers already on or if it is so hot that you do not wear shoes. That is not allowed in Spain and can lead to fines of 80 euros (shoes must be attached at the back and not loose at the front to prevent problems with accelerator and braking). Barefoot is not allowed as this can cause damage to a foot.

Driving without a shirt or topless in the case of female drivers is also punishable by fines between 40 and 80 euros. This is because contact with the seat back and car belt can be painful and cause damage to the skin with the potential for injury. Even if the airbag opens in the event of an accident, it is dangerous not to have a shirt on.

Eating, drinking or making up. Eating an ice cream, eating a sandwich, drinking water or doing your own make-up behind the wheel results in fines. Any distraction behind the wheel while driving is punishable and will be fined with penalties of up to 200 euros. You can also lose points from a (Spanish) driver's license.

Put your arm out the window or lean out the window

Drivers caught driving with one arm out of the window or leaning on the door while the window is open can face fines of up to 80 euros. You have to hold the steering wheel with both hands.

Feet on the dashboard

The co-drivers who think they can sit comfortably by putting their feet on the dashboard can come home from a cold fair (or warm beach) if they are caught. This is because for safety reasons (imagine the airbag opens in the event of an accident) this is not allowed and can result in fines of up to 100 euros.

Throw cigarette out of car

If you are a smoker and you throw the cigarette out of the car, this can result in a hefty fine of 400 euros or more. Certainly in dry and highly flammable Spain, it is not smart to carelessly throw a still-burning cigarette into nature. Unfortunately, this still happens a lot and many wildfires next to roads are therefore caused by smokers who do not think.

Number of occupants

If the number of occupants exceeds the maximum, which in most cases is 6 or 7 people (in normal cars), you can get hefty fines.

DVD screens, GPS etc.

Drivers are not allowed to watch movies or use DVD devices while driving. Setting a GPS or doing other actions on a GPS device while driving is prohibited. All devices that could distract the driver's attention are prohibited. Fines run up to 200 euros and you can lose points from your (Spanish) driver's license.

Calling in the car while driving is only allowed if "manos libre" or hands-free is done by means of a bluetooth system via the speakers of the car. It is not allowed to make calls using bluetooth headphones or similar devices. However, you have to pay attention because searching for telephone numbers and/or using the buttons on the telephones is again not allowed. Fines run up to 400 euros and you can lose points from your (Spanish) driver's license.

Sending or reading messages
It is absolutely not allowed to read and write messages in applications such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, etc. In the case of WhatsApp, it is also not allowed to record and/or listen to messages, call or video call . Sending SMS messages is also prohibited while driving. There are high fines for this.

Put things in the back that aren't stuck

According to the traffic regulations, putting things in the back seat without them being secured is in principle not allowed. This is because if a collision were to occur, these loose objects will fly in all directions and can be fatal. Loose items must be placed in the trunk. Fines can be up to 100 euros.

Reflective vest

You must have a reflective vest in the car at all times that must be put on in the event of a breakdown or accident. The vest is just as important for the Spanish traffic law as a warning triangle and not having such a vest with you can result in fines of up to 200 euros. Every occupant of the car must have a reflective vest, that is important. If there are not enough reflective vests, only those people with a vest are allowed to leave the car in the event of a breakdown, of course not if there is an immediate danger of fire or the like.

Taking bicycles in/behind the car

Taking bicycles in the car is only permitted if the bicycle is securely fastened and the bicycle does not obstruct the driver's view. If a bicycle is secured to the back of the car by means of special bicycle supports, this should always be done in such a way that the registration number of the car can be read and a red/white striped sign should be attached to the bicycles. Of course, the bicycles must be securely fastened, which also applies if the bicycles are transported on top of the roof. Failure to properly transport bicycles can lead to fines.

Source: https://www.spanjevandaag.com/03/06/2022/regels-boetes-en-autorijden-in-spanje/