N332 RoadWatch Issue 11

Issue 11

All of the traffic law related articles published on the n332.es website throughout 2017 N332.es

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Welcome to N332 RoadWatch Welcome to the latest edition of N332 RoadWatch, and welcome to a Brand new year.

Lots of changes have been implemented over the last few months, with many more set to start during the first part of this year. All of these changes have a single goal, to try to make the roads safer for all. We detail the changes that will be coming into force in this edition.

We also look back on 2017 and review the situation on the roads, with vehicles getting safer, there is still an insufficient decline in safety figures, with driver attitude and responsibility till being the main contributor.

We have also expanded this issue, and will continue to expand with each edition. We have sections on health, and travel, with more still to come, all thanks to our collaborations with quality service providers in our area.

We still have many more projects in development, some of which we will be revealing this year, others are in the early stages.

Okay, so it might be a little vague, but we don´t want to give too much away at the moment, but we are confident that you will find them extremely useful.

It´s not only us developing of course, and going back to this edition, you will see how technological advances are making road policing and monitoring a lot easier, with new motorbikes delivered this month, mobile speed radars and other new equipment all on the way, here is where you will be able to read all about them.

We also feature a section of the Guardia Civil that is often never seen, although always there if needed, the men and women of air support. This group of skilled aircrew are different from the team who fly the DGT traffic helicopters, but you will find out more inside.

For now, enjoy this edition and stay safe.

Please don´t copy any part of this publication because it is protected by copyright law.

Copyright © 2018 Mark Nolan and N332.es All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” to the email address, news@n332.es.

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Hit and Run Suspect Arrested on the Brink of Fleeing the Country

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hanks to the collaboration of a witness to a conversation, the National Police managed to hunt down and capture a fugitive responsible for knocking down and killing a 17-year-old girl in Madrid, just before the suspect fled the country.

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he incident occurred on Monday on the M-117 road in Madrid, when the girl was fatally knocked down at kilometre 3 of the road. The driver fled the scene.

ater that evening, a man, of Paraguayan origin, attended the police station in Pozuelo de Alarcón and explained to the officers the details of a conversation he had overheard between two men earlier that afternoon.

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he witness to the conversation stated that he did not know the person allegedly responsible for the incident, but at around one o'clock on Monday afternoon he had encountered him whilst smoking a cigar in a doorway.

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or about five minutes, the witness listened into the conversation where one of the men was explaining to the other how he had knocked somebody over in his car, and now plans to immediately leave the country.

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he person receiving the information left shortly afterwards, whilst the suspect called another acquaintance and explained the situation again, saying, “I have run over someone and I think I have killed them”, asking for help to leave the country, “I have to leave Spain to a Latin American country”.

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he witness to the conversation maintained his demeanour and continued to listen for more clues, before finishing his cigar, then returning to his home where he searched the internet for incidents which could have matched the details of what he had just heard.

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ery quickly he came across news of the death of Alejandra, the 17-year-old girl which had taken place in Madrid on Monday at Fuente el Saz de Jarama on her way to school.

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nsure as to whether the information he had heard was true, and battling with his conscience, for several hours the man chose to remain silent, but then decided to go to the police station in Pozuelo de Alarcón around eight o'clock in the evening.

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nce there, the Paraguayan explained to the officers what he had heard, with special emphasis on the fact that the subject planned to leave Spain that same day. At that time, the police did not have any more information other than that provided by the witness, who explained that he was a man of about 50 years of Paraguayan or Argentine origin, since the witness was able to distinguish the different nuances of Every Latin American speaker thanks to his origin.

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he National Police launched an operation in which they called on the assistance of the Guardai Civil, who were in charge of the investigation into the fatal incident, confirming what they knew about the suspect and the victim.

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fficers then visited the apartment block where conversations had taken place, knocking on every door in the block until one of the doors was opened by a Paraguayan girl. “Does a member of your family drive a green Mercedes?” asked the officers, to which the girl replied, “Yes, my uncle, but he just left with his bags in a hurry and I do not know why”.

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he police then visited the suspect´s home, at around 10 o'clock at night, although he wasn´t there, and, remembering the threat to flee the country, set about searching flights leaving Madrid airport, and discovered a flight leaving at 23:55 to Buenos Aires.

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ontacting the flight operator, the company confirmed the suspect had bought a ticket and was already on board the aircraft. Given the little time they had left, the police were forced to ask the plane's Captain for assistance and permission to proceed with the arrest, which finally took place at 00:15 on board the plane.

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ccording to sources, the suspect collapsed shortly after the arrest occurred and, although he did not confess the crime, he did tell them the exact place where the car with which he had run over the child was located, so is now accused of reckless homicide, omission of the duty of assistance and crimes against civil security.

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Drivers Failed to Prepare for Adverse Weather

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uring the first weekend of January, some 3,000 vehicles became trapped on a snowbound motorway in Segovia, prompting the government to call on military forces to assist the Guardia Civil in freeing vehicles and their occupants.

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owever, according to the Director General of the DGT, Gregorio Serrano, many of the drivers who became trapped did not hear or head the warnings, and many others failed to take necessary precautions.

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errano gave a press conference after the event and explained how more than 3,000 vehicles had been trapped on the AP-6 at the height of several municipalities of Segovia. Serrano said that ”many vehicles went without snow chains” which caused a serious of incidents which collapsed the road.

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lthough carrying snow chains is not mandatory, it is advisable during times of snow risk as it is mandatory to use them if signs are displayed saying so. Vehicles which do not carry snow chains must not proceed on roads where these signs are displayed.

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uardia Civil traffic officers worked tirelessly into a cold Saturday night to try to ease the problem and rescue stranded drivers, but the situation quickly became uncontrollable and so UME military forces were called in, staying on site well into Sunday afternoon.

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errano compared the situation to “many European countries”, where such occurrences are not infrequent, but this situation was further aggravated by the end of the Christmas holiday period.

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errano personally monitored the situation throughout the incident and assured the press conference that every possible resource was deployed which, despite the severity of the situation, could have ended so much worse, but could also have been so much easier should drivers have prepared and took notice of the warnings.

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n the aftermath of the event, Serrano announced that a new study will be carried out to investigate whether the new traffic laws should make certain mandatory requirements in the event of snowfall.

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aving chaired an emergency meeting of the Road Safety Committee, Serrano first apologised to drivers who became trapped, following failures that could have been avoided.

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he Committee studied several reports in which they detected “important and serious defects” of procedure and communication by the highway concessionaire, which was accused of acting “negligently” in many aspects.

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he documents studied were issued by the General Subdirectorate of Operations and Mobility of the DGT, the traffic management centres of Madrid and Valladolid, the chief coordinator of Traffic of Castilla y León and the traffic group of the Guardia Civil, in addition to the procedures applied in traffic management centres, proposing improvements in these cases.

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s a result of the initial findings, the DGT will make an “exhaustive report” in which it will specify the management and coordination procedures that must be modified to improve the response to episodes of extreme weather. That report will be submitted to the Ministries of the Interior and Development.

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n addition, the heads of the Directorate General of Traffic will hold a meeting with the heads of the Directorate General of Roads to improve inter-institutional coordination to avoid collapses due to weather conditions on the roads.

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t the end of January, the Director General will meet at the Management Centre in Zaragoza, where the directors of the 8 Traffic Management centres across Spain will converge with the heads of each of them to unify criteria for improvement in the protocols of action in case of snowfall episodes. It will also proceed to incorporate new actions to improve communication channels with members of the public through the different means available to the agency.

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inally, the Committee took the opportunity to thank the members of the Emergency Military Unit, the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil, the Cruz Roja, as well as the local police of the municipalities near the snowbound area and the maintenance workers on the roads whose combined actions resulted in the safe rescue and care of those involved.

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Permission to Use Your Vehicle Assuming your insurance covers multiple drivers, you may allow any qualified driver to use your vehicle. However, in order to avoid problems if the driver is stopped, it is recommended that the vehicle driver is given a document proving that they have the owner´s permission to drive the vehicle.

This may seem like an inconvenience, but it is for your protection. If the vehicle is stopped, the officers who come across a vehicle driven by somebody other than the registered keeper will question the legalities of the driver, which is in your best interest, as if it is stolen they will find out very soon. Otherwise, if a vehicle is stolen but not yet reported as such, there could be no reason for the Guardia Civil or police to doubt that the person driving the vehicle has the owner´s permission, and so it could otherwise go unchecked.

But of course there could be a genuine reason for somebody other than the registered keeper to drive the car, which is what this document would help to prove.

We have created a document which can be used for this purpose, which is available to download from the website, n332.es/ documents..

Simply download the document and complete it, or complete the online version and print it, and attach a copy of both the owner´s driving licence, and a copy of the licence of the person given permission to drive. It should be completed in full, including a term of validity, and then dated and signed.

We have also included the document on the reverse page of this article, so you can see it for yourself, and if you have the PDF version of the eMagazine, you can also print it direct.

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Changes to Traffic Laws in 2018

During 2017 a number of changes have been proposed and announced by the DGT, which will affect all drivers on Spain´s roads.

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ith the main objective of reducing road traffic incidents and, reducing the risk of serious injury or death, many of the changes are already prepared and will start to come into force from the end of January. We have already reported on some of these changes but have brought them all together here as a digest of what we can look forward to.

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regorio Serrano, the Director General of Traffic, said that “the new traffic law will be ready by the end of January 2018”, and that there will be important changes to the” examination procedure, points system, and to ITV inspections”, all aimed at reducing the number of deaths on the roads, 1,165 in 2017 so far recorded, ultimately to zero.

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Changes to Examinations

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he reforms, which could take effect from 2018, will be implemented in both the theoretical and in the practical exam, improving and adapting the system to those of other European countries.

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t has been proposed that examinees perform the test through electronic devices.

This could also include the projection of videos in which the student must describe a manoeuvre, observe hazards and react to emergency situations.

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n addition, much like the changes implemented in the UK, the practical part of the exam will include students following the instructions of a GPS over a set route, having to obey the instructions given by the device, whilst still respecting the rules of the road.

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Change to the Penalty Points System

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he implementation of the penalty points system was recognised as one of the most effective measures in improving road safety. In Spain, points are awarded with the licence, then withdrawn in the event of an infraction, with the ability to increase the number of points awarded for good driving behaviour over time.

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espite the success, the DGT believes that the system needs to be updated and reconsidered so that it remains as effective as it has been up to now. To do this, the catalogue of infractions which cause point loss will be reviewed. Furthermore, the plan will include the automatic loss of the licence if all points are lost, since “it is indicative that the offender lacks the proper characteristics to drive a vehicle.�

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he courses for obtaining points will also be reviewed and it is planned to create a virtual card so that all members of the European Union will be sanctioned if they commit infractions in Spain.

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Changes to the ITV Process

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he changes to the ITV system have already been published into the legal stature, and will come into force in May.

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sers of vehicles who suffer a failure or negative result will be able to go to a different test centre for the retest, as long as the faults have been rectified.

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TV test centres will be obliged to have diagnostic reading tools that can be connected to the on-board computers of the vehicles. This way it will be possible to detect if malicious software has been installed that alters the operation of the Airbag, the catalysts, or the particle filters.

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ikewise, reviews should also be made in greater depth on the security elements.

In the past, this would involve physical tests of the seat belts, but from now on the electronic elements that are accessed through the computer on board the vehicle will also be checked.

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FREE Driving Licence Renewal Reminder Service Thanks to our collaboration with La Siesta Clinic in Torrevieja, N332 can now offer another great free service, reminding you when your driving licence is about to expire.

All you have to do is send your name, NIE or passport number, contact details and the date when your licence is due to expire and you will be notified about a month before hand.

La Siesta Clinic offer a one-stop-shop renewal service for licences, whereas all you have to do is make an appointment, pay them a visit and then leave the rest to them.

Click here for more information, or here to make your appointment.

They handle the entire application, completing the forms, taking the photographs, carrying out your medical assessment and mobility test, and sending everything away to the trafico office for you. You will then be given a temporary licence and will be notified when your licence is ready for collection. Driving licence renewals the easy way.

However, the notification service is free and without obligation. We recommend and trust the services offered by La Siesta clinic, but you are free to either use your own renewal service, or complete the process by yourself.

To register for the renewal service you must send your name, NIE or passport number, telephone number or email address, and the date when your licence is due to expire.

Telephone: 966 784 195 WhatsApp: 692 134 136 Email: info@clinicalasiesta.com You can also call in to see the English-speaking team at the clinic in La Siesta.

C/ Rossini, 1. 03184 Torrevieja (Alicante) EspaĂąa.

Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00 / 16:3019:30.

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Welcome to a New You The January Health Kick

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s we move through January, many people feel the pinch around the waistline and decide to embark on a “new you�, with a health kick to work of those extra added kilos.

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oining a gym, a support group, on-line diet plan all see boosts at this time of year, but so does and increase in the number of people taking to the streets in their own fitness routines, perhaps walking, running or cycling off that extra baggage.

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emember, if you are on foot, walking or running, you are a pedestrian. Always wear bright, high visible clothing, stop at pedestrian crossings, keep an eye out for hidden junctions such as garage exits or side roads, and avoid distractions such as using headphones which may prevent you being aware of your surroundings. If you have to use the road remember to always face oncoming traffic.

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f you take to two wheels, remember that you are a vehicle, governed by the same laws as another other, cars, vans, etc, and you must never wear headphones or use a mobile phone, always respect traffic lights, signs, signals and one-way streets, if using pedestrian crossings remember that you must dismount and walk, as with running always wear high visibility clothing.

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t night and in times of poor visibility lights must be used on bikes, and are advisable for running or walking. If you are running or walking in a group it is mandatory.

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igilance and visibility is vital as a vulnerable road user. Be seen, be observant and be careful, if you are hoping to improve, good luck, but be careful.

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Newly Equipped Motorbikes

The latest two-wheeled addition to the Guardia Civil fleet sees a return for BMW, with the acquisition of nearly 300 BMW R1200RT motorbikes, set to replace the previous R850RT model, which had already started to be phased out by the powerful Yamaha FJR 1300. As well as the move towards more powerful and purpose designed motorbikes, the latest fleet sees the addition of highvisibility colours, yellow fluorine, required by new European regulations that recommend its use in police vehicles.

BMW Motorrad, owned by the BMW consortium, delivered the new motorbikes recently to the Guardia Civil, with their specific role of improving the safety of the officers who patrol the roads and motorways in Spain, and make the roads safer for all.

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The motorbikes will be used on the Iberian Peninsula, in the Balearic Islands and also in the Canary Islands and will serve to replace the previous BMW R850RT. In this regard, the R1200RT “includes all the elements of safety and comfort� and have specifications required by the Traffic Department in order to carry out the tasks for which they will be used, such as the installation of a siren and emergency lights, amongst other elements.

These 291 motorcycles have the corporate colours of the Guardia Civil, the distinctive green and white colourings, and has the addition of the yellow fluorine features, which serves to satisfy the new European legislation that recommends its use in police vehicles.

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Newly Equipped Motorbikes Technical characteristics With a list price of 19,650 euro, the R1200RT measures 2,222mm in length and 983mm in width. It has a wheelbase of 1,485mm and has a seat height to the floor of 805mm. It weighs 274kg and its maximum weight capacity with load is 495kg.

As is the standard for police motorbikes, the double-seat has been removed and replaced with a single-rider seat, allowing more room for the equipment to be carried.

It has a storage capacity of 25 litres, with areas specifically designed to transport the newly acquired and necessary equipment to carry out traffic surveillance without having to rely on other types of vehicles.

Francisco Javier Molano, Chief Lieutenant Colonel Guardia Civil in Galicia explained, “The new motorcycles allow the officers to perform speed controls and alcohol and drugs checks, without having to wait for the arrival of other patrols�. The motorcycles provide greater autonomy on the roads and with the new portable radars, the officers will be able to set up checks and controls and more areas, and faster than ever before. The new radars are small enough to be carried in the motorbike´s compartments, and can be set up on a tripod or used by hand.

The new alcohol and drug testing kits are also small enough to be carried on the motorbikes, allowing for instant checks to be carried out at the roadside at any time, day or night.

The Director General of Traffic, Gregorio Serrano, explained that the bikes are also intended to avoid the influence of applications and social networks that warn of alcohol controls. With motorcycles, these monitoring devices for alcohol and drug consumption will be much more dynamic, since the motorcycle has a greater versatility of use than cars, with which the controls will be much more agile.

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Returning to the characteristics of the bikes themselves, it is equipped with a bicylinder mixed cooling engine, with a cylinder capacity of 1,170cc. Its maximum power is 125hp at 7,750rpm. Its torque is 125Nm at 6,500 rpm.

The motorbike has six gears and has a 320mm diameter hydraulic disc double disc front brake. Its rear brake is monodisc and its diameter is 276mm. The bike can carry a front tire of 120/70 ZR with a 17-inch forged aluminium rim. The rear tire is 180/55 ZR, also with a 17-inch forged aluminium rim.

It has several optional elements such as the Start-Up Assistant, the electronic suspension adjustment, gear-changing Assistant (for more comfort and dynamism when changing gears) and LED daytime running lights.

It has two driving modes: Rain and Road, as well as an automatic control system ASC (Automatic Stability Control). The windscreen is adjustable so that it protects better against wind and rain. It has a multifunctional dashboard with TFT screen, and an on-board computer that provides the rider with a wealth of information.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS: TIPS FROM IAM ROADSMART

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very year, our motivation increases after Christmas and we spend the New Year planning our goals, such as getting fitter or eating more healthily, but many gym memberships feels unloved by February. Richard Gladman, head of driving and riding standards, suggests a few New Year Resolutions that are easy to keep and will improve your driving and keep you safe throughout the year:

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ew year, new car. Think about the effect your car can have on the environment. Those short trips have the biggest impact so look into alternatives. If you are looking to get a new car, make sure you research its emissions and road tax costs. Choose one with the latest safety kit such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) because we all need a guardian angel at times.

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yesight: The NHS suggests having an eye test every two years. It is your responsibility to ensure you’re fit to drive. Getting your eyes tested regularly will also show up any concerns at an early stage. You can check your vision yourself – can you read a number plate clearly from 20 metres?

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eather: Heed weather warnings all year around. If the weather is really bad, consider postponing your journey until a more appropriate time, or plan another method of transport if possible.

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ear-round maintenance: Clean your windows, lights, mirrors and number plates regularly.

You should spend around 10 minutes every week checking your vehicle’s fluid levels, tyre pressure, lights, tread depth and windscreen wipers.

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co-driving: A planned drive is an economical drive. Having a good sense of your vehicle’s power and gears will save fuel, and makes it safer to drive. There is no point in racing up to a red traffic light!

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nticipate: Consider what the traffic and other people around you may do, especially at traffic lights, roundabouts and junctions. Observing, anticipating and planning should be at the heart of your driving.

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efuel: Be sure to keep an eye on your tank, especially when embarking upon long journeys.

Refuelling early saves you the stress of trying to find a petrol station in an area you don’t know.

Running out of fuel causes hundreds of motorway breakdowns every year.

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ichard says: “The New year is a common time for people to reflect and evaluate their goals for the upcoming year. Why not begin by incorporating your driving behaviour into your list of resolutions for 2018? Why not resolve to make it better this year?”

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NISSAN BRAIN-TO-VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY REDEFINES FUTURE OF DRIVING

Nissan unveiled research this month that will enable vehicles to interpret signals from the driver’s brain, redefining how people interact with their cars.

The company’s Brain-to-Vehicle, or B2V, technology promises to speed up reaction times for drivers and will lead to cars that keep adapting to make driving more enjoyable.

Nissan will demonstrate capabilities of this exclusive technology at the CES 2018 trade show in Las Vegas. B2V is the latest development in Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company’s vision for transforming how cars are driven, powered and integrated into society.

“When most people think about autonomous driving, they have a very impersonal vision of the future, where humans relinquish control to the machines. Yet B2V technology does the opposite, by using signals from their own brain to make the drive even more exciting and enjoyable,” said Nissan Executive Vice President Daniele Schillaci. “Through Nissan Intelligent Mobility, we are moving people to a better world by delivering more autonomy, more electrification and more connectivity.”

This breakthrough from Nissan is the result of research into using brain decoding technology to predict a driver’s actions and detect discomfort: Predict: By catching signs that the driver’s brain is about to initiate a movement – such as turning the steering wheel or pushing the accelerator pedal – driver assist technologies can begin the action more quickly. This can improve reaction times and enhance manual driving.

Detect: By detecting and evaluating driver discomfort, artificial intelligence can change the driving configuration or driving style when in autonomous mode.

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Other possible uses include adjusting the vehicle’s internal environment, said Dr. Lucian Gheorghe, senior innovation researcher at the Nissan Research Center in Japan, who’s leading the B2V research. For example, the technology can use augmented reality to adjust what the driver sees and create a more relaxing environment.

“The potential applications of the technology are incredible,” Gheorghe said. “This research will be a catalyst for more Nissan innovation inside our vehicles in the years to come.”

Nissan’s B2V technology is the world’s first system of its kind. The driver wears a device that measures brain wave activity, which is then analyzed by autonomous systems. By anticipating intended movement, the systems can take actions – such as turning the steering wheel or slowing the car – 0.2 to 0.5 seconds faster than the driver, while remaining largely imperceptible.

Nissan will use a driving simulator to demonstrate some elements of the technology at CES, and Gheorghe will be on hand to answer questions. Nissan’s display will be at booth 5431 in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s North Hall.

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Traffic Collisions Claimed the Lives of 1,200 People Last Year The number of people seriously

injured reduced by 336 people

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istractions, inappropriate speed, tiredness or lack of sleep, and alcohol and drugs are the main contributing factors in fatal or serious incidents

he number of deaths in cars or vans of people not wearing a seat belt increased by 26, with 175 people losing their lives in 2017, compared to 149 in 2016 total of 408.5 million long-distance journeys took place, 16.4 million more than 2016, which represents an increase of 4.2% over the previous year t the beginning of 2017, 15 urgent road safety measures were announced, of which 90% have already been implemented

ore measures will be implemented in 2018 in several blocks: More reforms, more controls, more education / training and communication, more research and more commitments between administrations and the private sector

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n the latest compiled data for 2017, it was revealed that there were 1,067 fatal incidents on the interurban roads of Spain, in which 1,200 people were killed and 4,837 were hospitalised by their injuries, representing an increase of 3% in terms of fatal incidents (+28) and deaths (+39), although there has been a decrease of 6% (336) in relation to those hospitalised.

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he data has been presented by the Director General of Traffic, but is considered provisional as there is still a chance of complications from injuries sustained in incidents, which may alter the figures. Ordinarily, the fatality figures are concluded up to 24 hours after the incident, with an extension to 30 days following incidents on interurban roads.

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espite this upturn, the number of deaths remains below those recorded in 1960, the first year in which statistics are available, when there were 1,300 deaths, with an absolutely different mobility scenario (in 1960 there were one million vehicles and in 2017 the car quota is almost 33 million), but it must also be recognised that vehicle design has also played its part and vehicles today are far more safer than those of 1960, and yet the fatalities increase due, largely, to driver attitude and activity.

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ccording to Gregorio Serrano, the Director General of Traffic, “Although Spain remains one of the safest countries on the road both in the world (8th) and in Europe (5th), we must continue making great efforts among all to reduce the accident figures”, continuing, “I am sure that with the new Traffic and Road Safety Law and with more measures of control, education, training, communication and research, we will be able to reduce the number of deaths on our roads together”, adding, that “no measure is effective if it does not have the involvement of drivers and the rest of the public administration”.

Evolution of the number of deaths in interurban roads (24 hours) 1960 - 2017

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Traffic Collisions Claimed the Lives of 1,200 People Last Year

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ith the data we can conclude that the daily average of road fatalities is now 3.3 people per day, compared to 11.6 daily deaths in 2000.

number of other factors also stand out from the data:

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obility: An increase of 16.4 million long-distance road trips has been observed, which is 4.2% more than the previous year. In total, 408.5 million longdistance trips were registered in 2017, which represents an accumulated increase of 14.5% over the last four years.

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ncrease in vehicle numbers: During 2017, 1,787,242 addition vehicles have been registered, which means an automobile quota of almost 33 million vehicles on the roads.

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ge of vehicles: Despite the new registrations, in 2017 the average age of the vehicles involved in fatal incidents is now 12 years for passenger cars, a percentage that increases to 13.8 years in the case of the cars involved in fatal incidents.

Characteristics of Incidents

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y sex: A higher percentage of male deaths continue. The proportion of males over the total has been 78%, a percentage that remains consistent with respect to 2016.

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y age: There is a significant decrease in deaths among people over 65 years of age. In 2017, 181 people died, compared to 240 the previous year.

he age groups in which the number of fatalities increased the most was the 25 to 34 years group, with an increase of 37%, and those aged between 55 and 64 years of age, with an increase of 16%.

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ith regards to children three more people were killed in 2017 compared to 2016, with a total of 21 children under 14 years of age being killed.

y Autonomous Communities: There was a decline in the number of deaths in a number of regions, including Galicia (-29), Comunidad Valenciana (-17); Basque Country (-6) Navarra (-3), La Rioja and Castilla y Leรณn (-1). The Balearic Islands maintained the same number of deaths as the previous year. All other autonomous communities saw an increase in the number of deaths.

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Traffic Collisions Claimed the Lives of 1,200 People Last Year

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y type of route: Of the total number of fatalities, 77% occurred on conventional roads, which is why there is an increased focus in terms of surveillance and control on these routes. Specifically, last year, 792 people died on conventional roads, 30 more than in 2016.

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n high capacity roads, the fatality rate decreased from 24% to 23%, from 245 in 2016 to 239 in 2017.

y incident type: On high-capacity roads, 41% of those killed in 2017 were in incidents where their vehicle left the road, 20% were in rear and multiple collisions, and 15% were pedestrian related. On conventional roads, 42% of the deaths were due to incidents where the vehicle left the road, whilst 28% were in frontal collisions.

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ontributing factors: Distractions or inattentive driving (32%); inappropriate speed (26%), fatigue or sleep (12%); alcohol (12%) and other drugs (11%) are the factors that most contribute to fatalities, all of which are within the control and responsibility of the driver.

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type of road user: The data analysing the type of road user highlights differing behaviours. There was an increase in the number of fatalities involving car and van drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists, but a significant decrease in the number of pedestrians who lost their lives.

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Staying Safe

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se of safety equipment: 24% of the drivers and passengers who died in cars and vans in 2017 were not wearing seat belts at the time of the incident. Despite continual warnings and the mandatory requirement, a total of 175 people could still be alive today if they had worn their seat belt, 26 more than in 2016.

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f the 240 people killed on motorcycles, 2 were not wearing a helmet. In the case of cyclists, of the 44 who died, 8 were not wearing a helmet, despite it being mandatory on interurban roads.

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f the 16 children under 12 years of age who died in cars or vans, 4 were not secured by and safety accessory at the time of the incident.

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Traffic Collisions Claimed the Lives of 1,200 People Last Year New Measures Taken

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t the beginning of 2017, an urgent road safety plan was approved with 15 measures aimed at improving the worsening situation on the roads. Of the 15 urgent measures announced, 90% have already been implemented.

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n addition to the 15-point plan, extra regulations and measures were also announced and approved, including the provision of more alcohol and drugs testing kits, 300 new motorcycles and 156 new vans with alcohol and drug testing equipment.

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he Basic Plan of Road Education and the Provincial Commissions of Road Education have also been approved, which are already underway.

n addition to all these actions, during 2017, the 52 working groups created within the Superior Council of Traffic and Road Safety have met to discuss the changes and improvements that can be made in the Road Safety Act so that the DGT can subsequently develop the new traffic law to send to the Ministry in the first quarter of the year.

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Traffic Collisions Claimed the Lives of 1,200 People Last Year Projects for 2018 Projects set to be implemented during 2018 will be concentrated in several blocks: More reforms, more controls, more education / training and communication, more research and more commitments between administrations and the private sector.

We will look more closely at each of the proposed elements as the year progresses, but for now we can see the lists of these blocks.

More reforms: New Traffic and Traffic Safety Law, General Regulation of vehicles and Regulation of roadside assistance.

Approval of the State Strategic Plan for the bicycle.

Road safety strategy 2018-2020.

Commissioning of the DGT 3.0 connected vehicle platform.

Strategic vehicle plan.

Plan of measures against the sinisterness of vulnerable people.

More controls: Approval of new plan against the speed and publication of a new radar instruction.

Approval of the protocol for the application of Art. 36 of the Driver's Regulation in the recidivists for alcohol and other drugs.

New comprehensive plan to fight against alcohol and drugs in driving.

Acquisition of drones for traffic control.

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More education, training and communication: Development of the basic Coordination Plans in Road Education.

Acquisition of more pedagogical materials for schools.

Acquisition of 50 mobile traffic playgrounds.

Approval call for aid to associations of victims of traffic incidents, with special attention to the road education of adolescents.

Reform of the road training model in Spain.

Admission of 100 new examiners.

Carrying out communication campaigns in all media (TV, radio, digital ...) about the more vulnerable group: pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Realisation of new communication campaigns, outdoor advertising and direct actions.

More research:

Investment of 1 million euro in research grants More commitments: Approval of agreements for the promotion of road safety education with the Autonomous Communities.

Approval framework agreement of collaboration with the FEMP (federation of municipalities).

Celebration of collaboration agreements on road safety with the operators of the roads.

Approval of bilateral agreements with municipalities on vulnerable road safety.

Continue to promote work-based road safety in collaboration with companies.

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Are Dash Cams Legal in Spain?

A frequently reoccurring question searched for is "are dash cams legal in Spain?"

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lthough there are data protection issues, when referring to traffic law the simple answer is yes. One point that must be considered is that under data protection legislation you can run into problems if you share the footage on social media showing faces or number plates without permission, for example.

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hat said, not only are dash cams legal in Spain, they can also be extremely useful, especially in providing evidence in the event of an incident, or worse, and can be used by the authorities to help prosecute offenders, such as was the case when a lorry driver embarked on an extremely dangerous overtaking move, the footage was used to track down and prosecute the driver.

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e must take notice of is that the installation of the dash cam must not interfere with our primary field of vision. The optimum position will depend on the style of camera and vehicle, but if the camera can be hidden behind the rear view mirror, then it will not impede your view of the road ahead, and will not create an additional distraction.

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ike all devices, such as GPS, mobile phones, they must also be secured and you must not touch them whilst you are driving.

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Are Dash Cams Legal in Spain?

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n terms of them being useful, dash cams have been in use in many countries for many years, serving not only as a means of providing evidence in the event of an incident, but also protecting vehicle owners against false claims. Russia is one of the countries where dash cams have been in use for many years and in America, a move to make them mandatory gained support in recent years, on account of the value they provide.

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f you are looking to purchase a dash cam, the good news is that through a collaboration with one of our partners we have details of a great deal.

ovil System in Torrevieja are offering their most popular dash cam for just 69.99â‚Ź, and if you mention N332 when you purchase it they will give you an 8gb memory card absolutely free.

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he camera boasts Full HD 1080P with a 3" TFT display for previewing the footage. It has a 170Âş wide angle lens, parking monitor, support for 32G, motion detection, looping video and G-Sensor built in which protects the footage in the event of a collision or emergency, so that it cannot be deleted.

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or more information, you can visit them in their shop in Torrevieja, located on Calle Apolo, where their English speaking staff will be happy to give you a demonstration. They also provide a wide range of computer, mobile and device services, details of which you can see their website, movilsystem.es

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emember, to get your free gift, you must mention N332 when you order your dash cam.

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Who Is the Eye in the Sky?

There has been lots of talk about Pegasus, the airborne radar speed detectors, but Pegasus is not the only eye in the sky that is looking down on us.

In fact, Pegasus is the name given to the equipment which monitors speed from the air, and is carried on most of the helicopter which is operated by the DGT. You can spot the DGT helicopters, but not necessarily the ones with radar, bydon´t theircopy distinctive yellow andbecause blue colourings.

Please any part of this publication it is protected by copyright law.

Copyright © 2017 Markus Nolan and to N332.es Which brings back the point

of this article, to explain that not all the helicopters which are used fordistributed, police or funcAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted in any form or by “outphotocopying, to get you”, someor are to save you, real anytions means, are including recording, otherout electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied angels of the air who risk their lives on a daily basis, to en- in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, sure the safety and security of the entire country, not just addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” to the email address, news@n332.es. the roads.

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The helicopters we are talking about now are those operated directly by the Guardia Civil. Unlike the yellow and blue aircraft of the DGT, the Guardia Civil helicopters carry the same colourings as their land vehicles, the dark green and white combination that we see on the roads every day.

First established in 1973, the helicopter service of the corps has been an invaluable resource operating primarily in rescue missions, surveillance, security and transportation, as well as providing support to officers on the ground in a variety of crime fighting, investigation and other policing roles.

The Servicio AĂŠreo de la Guardia Civil operates from a central location, and has bases across the country, including the regions of Valencia and Murcia, and even has two detachments in Mauritania.

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They use three different types of helicopters depending on the roles and routine operations, the BO-105, BK-117 and the EC-135. In addition to the helicopters, the corps also fly CN-235 planes.

From mountain climbers plucked off a hillside and saved from danger, to seriously injured motorists rescued from the roadside, these helicopters have directly saved the lives of countless people. As is always the case in such a high risk role, there have also been numerous officers who have lost their lives whilst carrying out their duties to preserve the lives of others.

Please don´t copy any over part of this publication because it is protectedfugitives, by copyright law.

Flying high crime scenes, following catching

drug smugglers risks at sea, or just assessing the area for potenCopyright © 2017and Markspotting Nolan and N332.es tial risks to life, limb or criminal activities, the men and women of the All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by airborne service dedicate their lives to keeping us safe from the air, and any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior although Pegasus is also except responsible and saving lives, statiswritten permission of the publisher, in the casefor of safety brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

For permission requests, write to the tically five times more successful than conventional ground based ra-publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” to the email address, news@n332.es. dars, the Guardia Civil helicopters are a different breed altogether, the eye in the sky who is also the watching angel.

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That now said, as technology advances and improves, so does the availability of airborne vehicles which can monitor the skies. The next stage for traffic law enforcement is the provision of unmanned airborne vehicles, more commonly referred to as “drones�. The interior ministry has just secured a budget for the provision of a fleet of drones specifically for use by the Guardia Civil traffic department, which can be launched from a 4-wheel drive vehicle by the roadside to monitor, and eventually police the roads from the sky, issuing fines to unsuspecting bad drivers automatically.

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Bajas A Baja in Spain is the process by which the owner of a vehicle communicates to the Traffic Department that they are taking

the vehicle off the road (temporarily or permanently). Here, Spanish Solutions Tell you all you need to know about this.

You will not be able to withdraw the car from circulation or off the road, either temporary or permanently, if it has been officially immobilised with tape or blocked in the traffic department as it is necessary to cancel whatever the problem is previously.

It could be to do with the Courts, or the Tax office or the vehicle is not safe. You will usually see a sign on a car saying "Precintado" in this situation, and it will record the Kms, so the Traffic Officers know if it has been moved. They sometimes immobilise the steering wheel or pedals.

The ways to cancel a vehicle are different depending on the type of discharge from normal traffic circulation you intend to do.

Definite Withdrawl of the Car from the Road This is notifying the DGT or Traffic Department that you are taking the vehicle off the road permanently (withdrawing it from circulation).

Definite withdrawal by transfer of the vehicle to another country This is notifying the DGT or Traffic Department that you are removing a vehicle due to its transfer abroad, so definitely cancelling it in the Spanish Registry.

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Temporary Withdrawal This is when you advise the DGT or Traffic Department that a vehicle is temporarily withdrawn from circulation.

The reasons for temporarily cancelling a vehicle could be: •Personal circumstances.

•You have delivered the vehicle to be sold.

•The vehicle has been stolen Necessary requirements In the case of a car being taken to another country, before requesting the cancellation of the vehicle you must cancel anything recorded such as a lease agreement unless you have the express consent of the finance company to take it abroad.

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Bajas If you cancel your vehicle, always remember the following: If it is a definite withdrawal, you can only carry out the procedure in an authorised breaker´s yard and you must deliver the vehicle along with the documentation and this will give you a proof that it is taken off the road. If you entrust a third party to carry out this process on your behalf, you must ask for this proof. The receipt must clearly indicate that it is a definitive withdrawal and must include the data of both the vehicle and the breaker´s yard that has done the work.

If it is a temporary cancellation for personal reasons you must take into account that the vehicle in question must not go onto the road.

What documentation do you need?

You need to present the following documentation: • An original application, which is provided both in the breaker´s yard or scrapyard as well as in the Traffic Department.

• Identification:Individuals: an official document proving your identity and address (DNI, Spanish driving license, residence card, passport plus NIE - Foreigner Identification Number).

Legal representatives: Tax identification and accreditation of the representation and identity of the signatory.

Minors or disabled people: data and signature of the father, mother or guardian, their ID and a document proving the concept.

• Logbook • ITV document Remember that you can authorise a representative to perform these procedures.

Vehicle Processing Request Form In addition to the previous documentation, in the case of ...

•Definite withdrawal by transfer to a country that does not belong to the European Union: A special declaration needs doing.

•Temporary withdrawal due to theft of the vehicle: generally, temporary removals are automatically reported by the Guardia Civil at the time the Denuncia is done but if not you must report the theft to the Traffic Department,

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Where to present it • Definitive removal of the vehicle You must deliver your vehicle to a scrapyard or breaker´s yard that displays this identification plate.

You cannot remove a car from the road at the Traffic Department, except for the permanent removal of vintage or historical vehicles, with special value or destined for museums. The Scrapyard issues a special certificate to prove the car has been taken off the road.

Taking a Car Off the Road to transfer the vehicle to another country and temporary loss This can be done at any provincial Traffic Department. Spanish Solutions can assist with this. The documentation can be presented by your or any other person on your behalf, provided they provide your official identification document (original DNI) and your authorisation to carry out the procedure.

Temporary Removal From The Road The documentation can be presented by you or any other person on their behalf, provided they provide your official identification document (original DNI) and authorisation from you to carry out the procedure.

How can I cancel my vehicle if I am abroad?

Please contact Spanish Solutions for us to assist with this.

Frequent questions:Can I cancel a car whose owner has died?

This can only be processed when there is a probate deed which includes the car and shows the heir to the probate as the person who person makes the delivery of the vehicle to the scrapyard.

How to cancel a vehicle without papers If the documentation has been lost or stolen, the owner must fill out an affidavit stating their data and those of the vehicle, stating the reason for not presenting the documentation.

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Bajas When will I stop paying traffic tax?

A vehicle, while it is in current circulation, must pay road tax, whether the vehicle is used or not. Each tax is generated on January 1 and so to avoid a tax the next year the vehicle must be removed during that year. The owner in January always pays the road tax.

Do I have to communicate the cancellation of my vehicle to the Town Hall?

No, the Traffic Department does that.

My car was stolen, how do I cancel it?

You have to make the appropriate report to the Police or Guardia Civil and it is necessary that you advise your Traffic Department with the police report. We could assist with this.

Can I just leave my car on my drive while I am away for six months and not tax or insure it?

No, all cars in Spain (unless you have done a baja or officially taken it off the road) must be taxed and insured.

If we can help you with a baja or any other matters to do with cars please contact Nicola enquiries@spanishsolutions.net

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Learn With the Pros N332 has added another professional service to our list of collaborators, this time it is autoescuelaenred, a Spanish driving school.

The school will be providing us with articles in their own section, where many of the most common answers about driver theory will be answered.

You can also visit their website, autoescuelaenred.com/ en/, where you can get more information and participate in a remote course with a qualified instructor.

In the next edition of N332 RoadWatch we have asked the school to detail one of the most troublesome areas for many, driving on roundabouts in Spain.

Remember to look out for the next edition, due at the end of February, when we are sure all of your roundabout questions will be answered by the team at autoescuelaenred.

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UK Cars Being Checked in Spain through the DVLA portal, the officers can check the details at the roadside

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fficers on patrol in Spain are now able to check the legalities of UK registered vehicles through a portal provided byte DVLA.

his means that a vehicle registered in the UK and driving in Spain can be checked for validity of such things as MOT and tax, and whether the vehicle satisfies the mandatory requirements.

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he European Union agreed to share data with partner countries some years ago.

However, the UK government were reluctant to join this scheme and delayed their commitment to data sharing. As a result, although many European vehicles can be checked, UK registered ones were left in something of a black hole.

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ow, through the DVLA portal, the officers can check the details at the roadside and subsequently question the driver regarding any anomalies, which in turn can result in a fine and even the immediate seizure of the vehicle.

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oreign registered cars on the roads of Spain have always been a divisive subject, however the response to the ability of the Guardia Civil and police to clamp down on offenders has been mostly welcomed throughout the community.

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New Quir贸nsalud Torrevieja ambulance and home healthcare service Hospital Quir贸nsalud Torrevieja is implementing a pioneering home healthcare service aimed especially to attend the needs of international residents in the Vega Baja. This service is offered by the Health Premium Services card and revolutionises private healthcare models as it offers exclusive, high quality assistance from Quir贸nsalud, the leading company in social and healthcare services in Spain and a benchmark company in Europe.

This new personalized service by an international medical team made up of an ambulance service, doctors, and nurses is delivered in the comfort of your home. It also includes the care of inter national health per sonnel who speak various languages, and priority service for medical appointments. Card holders will have access to all the benefits Hospital Quir贸nsalud Torrevieja offers, such as a whole range of medical specialities that assure the comprehensive treatment of each patient, and agreements with all national and international insurance and travel companies.

Limited flat-rate service

The new medical Health Premium Services offers a limited annual flat-rate charge for ambulance services, medical care and nurse care: Ambulance service (12 transfers) Home medical healthcare service (5 visits) Home nursing care service (12 visits) Priority service for medical appointments 10% discount on all private medical and surgical services Access to the prevention campaign program

Care of international health personnel who speak languages Free benefits Management of appointments and digital Access to your clinical reports from the comfort of your home through the Patient Por tal Preferential admission service

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New Quirรณnsalud Torrevieja ambulance and home healthcare service Hospital Quirรณnsalud Torrevieja has been recognised as the best hospital within the public and private network of the Alicante Province, and best private hospital in the Valencian Community for the second year running, by the Index of Hospital Excellence from the Spanish Coordenadas Institute. It also received recognition for being "Highly Recommended" in the category of Best International Hospital from all over the world at the IMTJ Medical Travel Awards 2017.

The Health Premium Services card includes a limited flat-rate ambulance and home healthcare service for just 150 euros a year

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Diets that are low in calories are the least effective for weight loss Specialists recommend a varied and not very strict diet with a steady weight loss to achieve your objectives

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iets that are low in calories and restrict certain foods are the least effective because the body reacts by reducing its energy use. What’s more, although at first you may lose weight, in the long-term it gets more difficult, claim nutrition specialists from Hospitals Quirónsalud Murcia, Valencia and Torrevieja.

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fter Christmas a lot of patients decide to embark on miracle diets, taking weight reducing products, or doing intensive gym routines to burn off excess fat.

Carolina Pérez, nutritionist at Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja and Hospital Quirónsalud Murcia, explains: “the main risk of miracle diets is related to the speed at which the individual loses weight. The drastic reduction in the calories they consume creates nutritional imbalances. The apparent success at the start of the diet is not just due to a loss of fats, but also to a loss of muscle, one of the most metabolically active body tissues we have, which explains the bad results of the diet in the long run”.

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utritionist Rocío Práxedes from the Obesity Unit at Hospital Quirónsalud Valencia advises people to try a moderately low-calorie diet for more effective results: “that way people avoid their metabolism adapting which can later hinder a continuous weight loss; and more obviously because if a patient is hungry they are more likely to quit their diet”.

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Medical Advice For a diet to be effective specialists recommend following these steps: Choose a complete and varied diet that covers 100% of your nutritional requirements, and includes all basic food groups.

Don’t be too strict and adapt the diet to your own tastes, to avoid giving it up.

Maintain a steady weight loss; losing more than 1 kilo a week is counterproductive.

The optimum weight loss is 500gr-700gr/week.

Be realistic. Plan progressive changes to your diet and achievable objectives.

Don’t skip any meals. Normally diets consist of 5 meals a day which must be carried out to maintain blood sugar levels and not be too hungry before the next meal.

Respect everyone’s beliefs and cultures.

When to choose surgery When talking about a BMI (body mass index) of over 35, patients should first follow a diet supervised by a specialised nutritionist. If this does not reach the desired results, obesity surgery or bariatric surgery is an option. It should always be a doctor who decides what treatment is necessary and safe for each patient.

The advances in minimally invasive operations have revolutionised modern surgery in the last decade, including bariatric surgery. “The comprehensive treatment offered to overweight, obese, or diabetic patients guarantees the best results. What’s more the risks of the operation are very low, especially compared to the possible illnesses the patients are exposed to if they continue suffering from the disease”, assures Doctor Pedro Bretcha, coordinator of the Obesity, General Surgery and Digestive System units at Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja.

The benefits of the intervention are many, “80% of diabetic patients overcome the illness, and the condition of the other 20% is made substantially better and includes a weight loss of over 70% of excess fat, even reaching an optimum weight if patients accompany the treatment with a healthy lifestyle. This leads to an increase in life expectancy of obese patients of up to 10 years, and a better quality of life”, points out Doctor Carlos Sala, coordinator of the Obesity unit and specialist in metabolic surgery at Hospital Quirónsalud Valencia. In spite of its advantages, only 5% of Spaniards with Obesity undergo surgery due to a lack of information or not having access to the treatment.

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NISSAN BRAIN-TO-VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY REDEFINES FUTURE OF DRIVING

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During 2017 a number of changes have been proposed and announced by the DGT, which will affect all drivers on Spain´s roads.

With the main objective of reducing road traffic incidents and, reducing the risk of serious injury or death, many of the changes are already prepared and will start to come into force from the end of January. We have already reported on some of these changes but have brought them all together here as a digest of what we can look forward to.

Gregorio Serrano, the Director General of Traffic, said that “the new traffic law will be ready by the end of January 2018”, and that there will be important changes to the” examination procedure, points system, and to ITV inspections”, all aimed at reducing the number of deaths on the roads, 1,165 in 2017bso far recorded, ultimately to zero.

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