N332 RoadWatch - Issue 17

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Issue 17 - 2,00€

Expo Torrevieja in Pictures · AlertCops App Update · Driving Abroad after Brexit · Trailers and Trailer Registration · Drunk in Charge of a Scooter? · Social Media Dangers #DontStreamAndDrive · AND MUCH, MUCH, MORE

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.

Did you visit the Expo Torrevieja? We know thousands of people did, and we spoke to most of you. If you did, thanks for coming along and saying hello, it is always nice to meet you.

There´s a lot going on in this issue, with a number of new rules to look at that are not directly related to Spain, but may have an impact on life here, especially with the B-word meaning the UK has had to adapt some of its driving rules.

Throughout this edition you will see a number of images and posters for a campaign which is now in its fourth year, originating in the UK, all about the dangers of mobile phone use. I´ll not say anything more here, as we go into detail inside, but keep a sharp eye open and see if you can spot them all, keen observation is key to safe driving after all.

We have the latest seat belt use statistics and, as always, they are of grave concern, especially the number of children left unprotected in cars. However, we also report how the courts are not looking on this with leniency, so hopefully the message will start to sink in to those who risk life by not using these crucial safety devices.

Our cover mage this time features the new look for the Guardia Civil traffic vehicles. It´s more than just a look though. All will be explained!

There´s lots more to keep you occupied too, so I will let you get on and flick through the pages and, we hope, enjoy this latest publication.

So, for now, as always, stay safe.

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

Copyright © 2019 N332 Ltd 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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N332 at the Expo Torrevieja As promised, members of N332 were at the Expo Torrevieja, answering questions and doubts about driving in Spain.

As usual, the number one question we were asked was about driving on roundabouts, which we duly explained the aw, with the help of a variety of visual aids.

We also gave away 100 new high visibility vests, thanks to our collaboration with mabeq.com, the mobility scooter experts, as well as stickers for the car, featuring our new N332 circular logo, and pocket guides to the maximum permitted speed limits in Spain.

Huge thanks to everyone who came along, we did realise that we blocked the passageway a few times with the number of people surrounding us, but we are promised that will be rectified next time with an even bigger stand supplied, for free, by the organisers..

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ALERTCOPS App Gets and Update

Hopefully, if you have a mobile phone, you will have already at least heard of the ALERTCOPS app, an official application launched by the Spanish government, even better you will have downloaded it and registered already. If not, then it´s about time you did, but if you have, it is due an update.

With this updated version, one of the developments allows you to share your location information with your own private list of recipients, not only the emergency services. As before, you can also send pictures and videos with the report, but this time to your private list if you choose.

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Another improvement is the option to receive security alerts based on your own location, which can be updated on a frequency of your choosing, and you can have a chat conversation with the operators in your own language.

However, if you are already a registered user of the app, whether you have had to use it before or not, you will need to uninstall your current version before installing the update.

The app can be downloaded for both Apple and Android phones and, once registered with your personal details such as your NIE, then left on your mobile, hopefully never having to be used.

Since its launch, the app has been praised for helping to locate numerous vulnerable and missing people, and allowing reports of both domestic violence and bullying to be made in confidence.

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Choosing a Crash Helmet A British road traffic patrol stopped a motorcyclist who was riding with a builder´s hardhat tied on with a piece of string. The rider didn´t realise that they had done anything wrong, believing that a helmet is a helmet. They were educated by the patrol.

Crash helmets for riding a motorbike or scooter in Spain must be of an approved type. However, in addition to the legal requirements, there are also other matters that should be taken into consideration.

The Spanish national association of companies representing the industry, (Asociación Nacional de Empresas del Sector de Dos Ruedas), offer these handy tips. 

You must be able to see the ECE (European Standard) label clearly. This proves that the helmet is of an approved type and suitable for use.

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It must cover the forehead above the eyebrows.

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It must not move or fall on the driver's eyes or apply pressure on the forehead.

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It must not hinder the driver's peripheral vision.

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If you wear spectacles, the helmet must not push or reduce the vision of the bikers who wear glasses.

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Plus, and equally as important, it must be comfortable.

Remember, a helmet is only worn correctly if it is secured to the head it is protecting. Always use the chin strap and always make sure your hehjunlmet is secure.

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Brexit: Driving Abroad is Changing Although much of the situation still remains unclear, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency of the British government has issued a stark warning for drivers to get ready now for any impending changes.

For example, the information states that if you are a commercial driver operating in the EU, you need to prepare for Brexit by making sure you have the right documents.

To prepare for deal and no deal scenarios, you need to: register trailers for international commercial use weighing over 750kg check if you need International Driving Permits and how many you may need contact your vehicle insurance provider to get a motor insurance green card display a GB sticker on your vehicle

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Trailer registration From 28 March 2019, all commercial trailers over 750kg must be registered to travel from the UK to the EU. Visit the trailer registration page on GOV.UK for more information https:// www.gov.uk/guidance/trailer-registration

International Driving Permits If the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 29 March, you might need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in EU and the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).

After Brexit, in the event of no deal, you will need a 1949 permit to drive in Spain, Iceland, Malta and Cyprus on holiday.

You can get IDPs from the Post Office.

Read the International Driving Permit guidance for more information about whether you require a permit and which types of permit you need. https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit

Motor insurance green cards Green cards are an international certificate of motor insurance. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, commercial drivers may need a green card as proof of third party motor insurance You should contact your insurer for more information and to get a card.

Read more about vehicle insurance after Brexit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-to-drive-in-the-eu-after-brexit#vehicleinsurance-for-uk-registered-vehicles-in-the-eu

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Brexit: Driving Abroad is Changing GB stickers From 29 March, if the UK leaves the EU with no deal, you may need to display a GB sticker even if your vehicle has a Euro-plate (a plate with a European flag and a GB label).

Read more about GB stickers https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-to-drive-in-the-eu-after-brexit#number-platesand-national-identifiers

ECMT permits The Government remains confident that hauliers won’t need ECMT permits to drive in the EU after Brexit, but are still progressing contingency plans to prepare for all scenarios.

As part of these contingency plans, we have secured more ECMT permits. We’ll let you know how we’re allocating these shortly.

Read our ECMT permit guidance https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ecmt-international-road-haulage-permits

Want to know more?

The UK Government's Brexit website has information and updates on everything you should do to prepare for Brexit. https://euexit.campaign.gov.uk/

You can also register for alerts and further information about Brexit. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-to-drive-in-the-eu-after-brexit#stay-informed

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Dangerous Speeder Faces Prison During a routine check for speeding vehicles, officers from the Guardia Civil traffic department in AlmerĂ­a clocked a vehicle travelling at 106 kilometres per hour above the maximum permitted speed on the road.

The section of road where the checks were being carried out has a maximum permitted limit of 90 kilometres per hour, whereas this particular vehicle was recorded as travelling at an extremely dangerous 196 kilometres per hour, more than twice the maximum permitted speed on the secondary road.

In view of the severity of the offence, it is being treated as a criminal act, and so the driver will potentially face prison, a fine, possible community service, and the loss of driving privileges, although he was lucky not to have killed or seriously injured anybody on this occasion.

The speed check was set up on the N-347 road, using a static cinemometer, within the municipal area of AlmerĂ­a, on a secondary road where the majority of serious and fatal incidents take place around the country, hence the action.

Having observed the driving travelling at the recorded rate, the officers immediately stopped the Volkswagen vehicle and impounded it on the grounds of safety, identifying the driver and promptly enacting an arrest for crimes against road safety.

The driver of the vehicle faces a prison sentence of 3 to 6 months or a fine of 6 to 12 months or work for the benefit of the community from 31 to 90 days, entailing the deprivation of the right to drive motor vehicles and mopeds for up to 4 years.

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Driving on a Motorway in a Prohibited Vehicle

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It does come as a surprise to many, but there are occasions when vehicles which we would not normally expect to see on a motorway are permitted.

In most cases, driving on a motorway in a prohibited vehicle, such as a horse or hand drawn vehicle, a cycle or moped for example, will result in a fine, as will carrying an insecure load which can fall or that compromises the stability of the vehicle.

There are some motorways where cyclists are permitted, but it is up to you to check this before you ride on them, and you must stay on the hard shoulder. These do exist, but are not the norm.

If you do find yourself on a motorway with a prohibited vehicle you risk a 200 euro fine.

The reason is that motorways are designed for fast and safe traffic.

Although speed can be a contributing factor to incidents on the roads, motorways are designed in such a manner that they are generally safer at higher speeds than normal roads, with long sweeping curves and flat, straight sections, free from more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cycles, and largely free of distractions as they are sterile areas.

Vehicles which are unable to reach a minimum threshold of speed are banned because as traffic is moving faster, reaction and stopping times are increased and if a slower vehicle is in the path of one moving at high speed there is less time to deal with that hazard.

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Drunk in Charge of a Scooter?

An 18-year-old man was charged with drunk driving recently, but he wasn´t driving a car, he was simply riding along on an electric scooter, so how could he be fined?

The simple answer to the question is this. There are only two basic types of road users, pedestrians, and vehicle users. A pedestrian is quite simple to imagine or understand, it is a person walking. But a vehicle user is also simple to understand too.

A vehicle, in its most simple form, is anything that it s propelled on wheels. With that statement we will not get into an argument about tracked vehicles, we are just being simplistic for the purpose of explaining a concept. We could easily say that a vehicle is anything that is not solely propelled by the manual movement of human extensions making contact with the road surface, or feet on the ground, but let us just keep it simple.

So, with that idea in mind we can understand why the boy was charged and fined for drunk driving, because the scooter was a vehicle.

Whether it is a scooter, moped, or a bicycle, trike, quad, car, truck, bus, tank (there you go, we will include a tracked vehicle), to name but a few, if you are using them on the road, as su ming they are p er mi tt ed , then they are classified as being a vehicle.

You are therefore subject to all the same laws as a vehicle user, including alcohol and drugs, stopping at stop signs, only riding in the correct direction on a one-way street, whatever it might be, if a rule is in place for which a vehicle must comply, then scooter users, cyclists, whoever and whatever vehicle they are moving in, must also abide by the rules of the road.

On the occasion of the scooter rider being stopped and fined, he was seen to be swerving along the road, and so was presenting a danger to himself as much as others, which is what these laws are set to protect, all road users.

A the moment, mandatory insurance is not required, nor is a driving licence for many of these smaller vehicles, although we are still expecting stricter usage guidelines and legislation to be implemented in the first half of this year which will see stricter use for these personal mobility vehicles, but until them, they are still classified as vehicles when used on the public road.

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Changing the Guard Our cover image featured a new delivery of vehicles to Alicante, ready for sending to their allocated bases across the province.

That delivery was of 225 new four-wheel-drive vehicles, 140 were Jeep Kompass and 85 were Land Rover Discovery.

Over the next few months, the entire fleet of traffic vehicles is being replaced and will feature predominantly SUV type vehicles.

Alicante is still expecting deliveries of Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Ford Kugas.

These vehicles all feature the new traffic livery, which retains much of the existing green and white colours of the Guardia Civil, but features yellow as an addition to ease in visibility.

In case you´re wondering, the unmarked vehicles will also be replaced, but we´re not going to reveal those. At least, not yet.

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Mobility for Everyone 966 721 165 690 096 852 C / Paraná 50 lower level Orihuela Costa

Mabeq is your local distributor based on the Orihuela Costa for all kinds of mobility equipment.

Located just a short distance from the Zenia Boulevard, where they also have an outlet inside Leroy Merlin, the shop offers a wide range of mobility scooters, electric bikes, personal mobility equipment, wheelchairs, and more.

Not only do they offer a wide range of mobility scooters to suit every need, from a small vehicle that gives you independence, to larger vehicles, some even with two seats, that will allow you to travel all around your home town without fear of becoming isolated or problems.

That said, if you have problems with your mobility scooter, even if you didn´t purchase it from Mabeq, they offer a recovery and repair service from their offices, so make sure you keep their number for your own peace of mind. Most of the staff also speak English, so you don´t even have to worry about that.

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We will feature some of their equipment in future editions, but we wanted to introduce them to you today, so that you remember their name, Mabeq, for all you mobility needs.

You can visit their website for more information, www.mabeq.com, call them on 966 721 165 or 690 096 852, or visit their store on C / Paranรก 50, the lower level, on the Orihuela Costa, the road which leads to and from the Zenia Boulevard.

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Five Get Arrested in Fake Licence Scam Officers from the National Police have arrested four people for being part of a group who would help people obtain a driving licence by fraudulent means.

The officers also charged a fifth person as alleged perpetrators of criminal offences including the disclosure of secrets, document forgery and crimes against the State Administration.

The arrests were made in Palma de Mallorca, following an investigation into the group who would assist foreign citizens who couldn´t understand Spanish in passing their theoretical test. The group would use technical and electrical devices to achieve this.

The investigators discovered that the examinees entered the examination room with a mobile phone camera, hidden under their clothes and with the camera at an angle to view the exam, so that another person located in the exterior of the Provincial Traffic Headquarters and expert in traffic matters, answered the questions through a headset.

After analysing all the data obtained, the officers arrested an examiner in situ at the time of the test and the expert who was reporting the answers. In addition, they detained two other people, the person in charge and another who was in charge of looking for people with problems in the comprehension and reading of Spanish, for which they would charge between 1,500 and 3,000 euro for the privilege.

So far, the detainees were all of Indian origin, but the officers then arrested a 61-year -old Spaniard whose job was to help them to pass the practical examination.

With the five people already charged, the operation remains open and new arrests are not ruled out.

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Volvo to Limit Car Speed Volvo Cars has announced that the manufacturer will limit the maximum speed of all its vehicles to 180 kilometres per hour from 2020 to highlight the dangers excessive speed.

In addition to global, European and national initiatives, Volvo themselves have pledged to do whatever it can to ensure that nobody dies or is seriously injured in one of its vehicles. That pledge is not too futuristic, as the company has set 2020 as the deadline for achieving this.

However, it´s not only people inside the vehicles that the company is concerned about. They are also investigating how a combination of intelligent speed control and so-called “geofencing” technology could automatically limit speeds in areas where there are schools or hospitals for example.

“We want to start a conversation about whether vehicle manufacturers have the right and even the obligation to install technology in cars that changes the behaviour of their drivers, to address speeding, intoxication due to alcohol and drug use, or distractions,” said Volvo president and CEO Hakan Samuelsson.

The problem with speeding is that, above certain speeds, the safety technology in the vehicle and the design of intelligent infrastructure are not enough to prevent serious injuries and deaths in the event of a collision. For that reason speed limits are in force in most Western countries, although speeding is still “ubiquitous” and one of the “most common” reasons for deaths.

Volvo will present ideas to address the problem areas of intoxication and distraction at a security event in Göteborg (Sweden), which will take place on March 20.

This measure comes at a good time for Volvo. The Swedish manufacturer registered an increase in its global sales of 11.3% during the first two months of the year, reaching 93,863 units sold, compared to 84,369 units registered in the same period of the previous year, according to data published by the company.

The automotive firm explained that the sales growth was led by the “solid” performance of the Volvo SUV range, especially by the XC60, followed by the XC40 and the XC90. For its part, the new V60 and the S60 sedan, manufactured in the United States, also contributed to the increase in sales.

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Technical stuff:

In the month of February, the company sold a total of 43,184 units, which translates into an increase of 5.5% compared to the 40,930 sold in the same month last year.

By region, the company's European sales grew by 12.9% in the first two months of 2019, with 49,195 units sold, compared to the same period last year, when it posted sales of 43,571 units. The double-digit growth, as the company argues, was due to the “strong� demand for the XC60 and XC40 SUVs and the new V60.

In China, the company sold 2.2% more in the first two months of the year, up to 18,473 units, compared to the same period last year, when it posted a volume of sales of 18,489 units. In the month of February, however, sales in this region fell by 0.2%.

In the United States, sales reached 12,489 units in the months of January and February, 5.4% more than in the same period of the previous year, when it accounted for 11,850 units sold.

By models, the XC60 was the most sold in February, with sales reaching 12,630 units (in February 2018 they sold 10,308 units), followed by the XC40, with total sales of 8,176 units (in February 2018, 1,580 units were sold) , and of the XC90, with 5,752 units (in February of 2018 6,607 units were sold). The V40 and V40 Cross Country models registered sales of 4,196 units (in February 2018 they sold 6,109 units) and the new V60 Estate sold 3,849 units in February.

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Towing a UK Trailer Abroad – The rules have changed If you have a UK registered trailer, either currently in the UK, or if you are planning to bring one to Spain, the rules have changed, not affecting Spain directly, but the countries which surround it.

From 28 March 2019, it is mandatory for certain trailers taken out of the UK to be registered with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency).

Trailers with a gross weight of over 750kg used for commercial purposes, and those with a gross weight over 3,500kg which are used towed by private vehicles, must be registered and have the registration documents with the vehicle towing them.

The change is a long awaited compliance by the UK with the requirements of the UN 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which the UK has ratified. Although much of the UK´s traffic law already complies with the convention, the registration of trailers is one element which was outstanding. This came into force on 28 March 2019.

In order to comply with the agreement, trailers that are used internationally in countries also covered by the convention must be registered, if they fall into the required categories. A full list of countries is available, along with more information, on the UK government website gov.uk/guidance/trailer-registration, where you will see that you do not need to register trailers used in Spain, but you must register if you drive through the countries which surround Spain, i.e. France, or Portugal, as well as other countries.

In order to try to make the process easier, and because there is expected to be a large number of trailers that fall into the categories, the DVLA has launched a new website, where the information on the trailer can be submitted, before the registration certificate is sent to you through the post, and an email confirmation, which will allow you to then have the number plate made which must be displayed on the trailer.

You can register your trailer, and find out more, here: gov.uk/registertrailer-to-take-abroad

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Towing a Trailer – The Basics Trailers fall into two distinctive categories when it comes to classifying them for normal use on the roads of Spain, those below 750kg and those above 750kg maximum weight.

A small trailer, or “Remolque Ligero”, which has a maximum weight less than 750kg does not have to be registered. You must however clearly display the number plate of the vehicle towing the trailer on the rear, which must also be a certified style of number plate, and must have lights fitted which repeat the actions displayed by the towing vehicle.

A larger trailer, which also includes caravans, with a maximum weight over 750kg kilograms, the “Remolque Pesado”, is a different altogether.

Firstly, it has to be registered as a separate vehicle and must have its own “Permiso de Circulación”, or log book. It must also have its own registration plate, which is red in colour, and this must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle. This type of trailer is also subject to mandatory testing at an ITV station, and the ITV documents must also be carried with the vehicle. It must also display the number plate of the towing vehicle and have lights on the rear that repeat what the towing vehicle is doing.

There are a couple of points to remember when towing a trailer. Your view of the road must not be obscured, which includes the view in your mirrors. All number plates must be of an officially recognised and certified form, handwritten numbers on cardboard for example are not permitted. If you are towing any form of trailer, you must also carry a fire extinguisher with you in the vehicle.

We will deal with the matter in more detail another time, not just as a quick note it is worth mentioning that towing another car is not permitted in Spain, and that includes by a so-called A-frame. The only way to tow another vehicle like a car is for it to be on the back of an approved trailer.

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New Website for Car Hire Al Andalus Car Hire are celebrating the launch of their new interactive website, that aims to give you the most cost-effective car hire in Spain through the simplest of processes.

Now, booking, or re-booking your car hire, can be done in just four easy steps.

You choose your pick-up location and date, then your drop-off location and date, click the button and can then pick your size or style of vehicle. Chose any optional extras, fill in your contact details and make the payment, having everything done securely from the comfort of your own home.

Once registered, it´s then even easier to come back and book again, as the system will remember you, ad can even make recommendations based on your previous bookings.

Having grown their family-run business through recommendation and word of mouth, this is a huge leap forward for the firm, and sets them on another level when it comes to streamlining the user experience, to take up as little of your precious holiday time as possible.

If you want to know more, visit their website, alandaluscarhire.com, and make sure you give them a try for a very competitive, no hidden extras, quote.

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Lorries at sea urgent safety advice From the U.K. Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency Urgent safety advice has been issued by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) to all lorry drivers who use ferries.

This follows an incident where lorries toppled over on a ferry vehicle deck while at sea, with drivers still in their cabs. One driver was trapped and had to be freed by emergency services.

International Regulations International regulations prohibit passengers, including lorry drivers, from staying on the vehicle decks when at sea.

The MAIB is warning that: while a ferry is at sea, the roll on, roll off decks should be occupied by only trained professional seafarers who are required to undertake safety and security patrols  drivers who remain on the vehicle deck pose a danger to themselves and can cause delay in emergency response drivers who remain in their vehicle cabs could be in danger of asphyxiation by fire, or as a result of the fire suppression systems that may be released by ship’s staff 

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Raising Awareness of Mobile Social Media Dangers

Distracted driving is not something new. It has always been there from rubber necking to messing with the stereo, lighting cigarettes, drinking/eating and even children. The mobile phone has simply added an additional distraction to already overloaded drivers.

Whereas up until recent years the phone was a device for simply talking to somebody, itself distracting enough, the development of the smartphone has brought about a new range of features, and a new range of distractions.

Mobile phones have become an extension of our hands and so normalised to us that many drivers are oblivious to the dangers. Our lives are becoming increasingly digitally orientated. The plethora of social media platforms, chat services and other applications are all calling for the users attention and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) has become a very real issue for many.

Then we have those who actively engage with such platforms whilst driving. A short glance to read a notification can lead to tragedy but live and recorded video has become very popular and is increasingly leading drivers to record footage whilst at the wheel.

A brief search across social media platforms will quickly reveal drivers engaged in this dangerous behaviour in your area and across the globe. The message is clear. #DistractedDrivingKills In an initiative first created in the UK by Neil Dewson-Smyth, a serving police officer in Cheshire Constabulary, but now, in its fourth year, gaining global support, #DontStreamAndDrive Day 2019 is set for April 16th. Whilst the day is the main event, it is the culmination of several weeks of pushing the message across social media across the UK and internationally.

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In the most recent data published by the World Health Organisation, every 24 seconds someone dies on the road. Road traffic injuries are the number 1 cause of death amongst children aged 5 to 14 and young adults aged 15 to 29.

Smartphones have become the most popular internet-connected device (78% of UK adults use one) and websites around the world have seen mobile devices overtake desktop computers.

There is a substantial documented research proving that hand held and hands free mobile phone use is a significant distraction and substantially increases the risk of being involved in a crash.

A National Safety Council white paper concludes drivers using mobile phones have a tendency to look but not see (sometimes referred to as ‘Inattentional blindness’). A lorry driver involved in a crash that killed 8 people on the M1 in 2017 cited ‘Inattentional blindness’ in his defence, as he was using a hands free mobile device at the time his vehicle hit a minibus and shunted it into another lorry.

Social media has become the new place to find breaking news and often before the major news outlets. Members of the public have the opportunity, when presented with a situation, to break that news to the internet. The concept of ‘Citizen Journalism’ became increasingly apparent when news sources like the New York Times decided that there was little need for their own photographer pool as social media users are now always first on the scene. The draw of this is high and is evident by the number of those who record crash scenes as they drive past ( #eRubberNecking ) or how many people record unfolding incidents instead of helping.

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#DontStreamAndDrive Day is in its 4th year. It is run entirely on social media and in the last 3 years has attained a social reach of over 100m. Its aim has always been to raise the awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and especially those engendered by recording or broadcasting video. It is the only campaign of its type in the world and has enjoyed the support of most UK police forces, many other emergency services, road safety organisations, the public and many police officers across the country on Twitter. It takes place this year on April 16th with support from the National Police Chiefs Council, Cheshire Constabulary and the National Roads Policing Intelligence Forum.

Further details about #DontStreamAndDrive www.dontstreamanddrive.com

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SGTTCS (NEIL DEWSON-SMYTH) IS A UK POLICE OFFICER WHO HAS WORKED IN UNIFORM OPERATIONS FOR

27 YEARS.

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Register-Your-Car.com has been serving expats in Spain by provide a service registering vehicles into the Spanish system. Our company provides people with peace of mind and an efficient professional service. We are a fully bi-lingual company, so we can deal with all your vehicle registering needs efficiently and legally. We offer a first class service and we will beat any genuine written quote!

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Seat Belts – Live and Learn In the most recent intensified campaign focussing on the wearing of seat belts and child restraints, 4,446 people were found to be not wearing a seat belt, adults who actively made that choice, whereas 262 children were also travelling without any form of restraint, 62 of them in the front seat.

It might be a well known fact that children learn by example, but that doesn´t seem to be realised by the adults responsible for those children found to be put at risk. That said, those children are the lucky ones, as hopefully the lesson will be learnt and the responsible adults will take appropriate action from now on.

To be found responsible for the death of any child is a burden that is almost impossible to conceive, let alone one´s own. That burden will not be eased by the courts, as has been witnessed in a sentence handed down in Madrid, in which the driver of a car has been sentence to two years in prison following a crash in which his son was killed.

The incident occurred in February, 2017, when the defendant was driving his car, an Opel Corsa, at speeds between 120 and 130 kilometres per hour on a section of the MA-20 motorway at the exit of the Carlos Haya tunnel, in the Almería direction, where the maximum permitted limit is 80 kilometres per hour.

The reports state that the vehicle was travelling in the left hand lane and whilst the driver was distracted moved, “inadvertently,” to the centre lane. The driver then noticed another vehicle and realised a collision was imminent, thus making a sharp turn to the left to avoid the crash, losing control of his car and colliding with the central reservation, before rolling six times.

Travelling in the vehicle was the man´s son, a four-year-old boy, who was travelling in a child seat which was located on the back seat of the vehicle. However, the seat had not been secured to the vehicle and the child was thrown from the vehicle and died instantly due to a head trauma.

The sentence states that the defendant had not anchored the child seat to the vehicle, nor had he fastened the safety harness. As a result, the man omitted “the most elementary duties of care that, as father and responsible for the vehicle, were incumbent upon him”.

As a result, whilst living with the knowledge of what he was responsible for, the man was sentenced to two years in prison for a crime of homicide for serious imprudence. He was also banned from driving for three years.

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The man will also have to financially compensate the mother and siblings of the child for a total of 113,307 euro, of which only a portion, 20,451 to each of the children, will be covered by the insurance company.

The Most Recent Statistics In the most recent campaign, which ran between the 11th and 17th of March, 4,446 people have been detected not using the seat belt, or the child restraint system in the case of minors, by Guardia Civil traffic patrols.

The campaign, which is included in the annual calendar of special actions planned by the International Traffic Police Organization (TISPOL), meant that many countries increased surveillance during the week.

In Spain, a total of 377,602 vehicles have been checked and it has been verified that 4,446 people did not use the mandatory security device.

The data reveals that 75.6% of people who did not use this safety device were on conventional roads, the place where 8 out of 10 deaths occur.

During the seven days, the officers also detected 262 children, of equal or less than 135 cm tall, travelling without any type of security device. Specifically, 62 of them were in the front seat and another 200 in the rear seats.

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Seat Belts – Live and Learn

Spanish legislation requires that children equal or less than 135 cm in height who travel by vehicle, in addition to travelling with the child restraint system appropriate to their size and weight as required, must be seated in the rear seats of vehicles, except: 1. When the vehicle does not have rear seats 2. When all the rear seats are already occupied by other minors of the same characteristics.

3. When it is not possible to install all the child restraint systems in said rear seats.

It is only in these cases that children can occupy the front seat of the vehicle, but always using the restraint system approved to their size and weight. Child restraint systems must be installed in the vehicle in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Life Insurance The seat belt is a basic and fundamental element of road safety, a life insurance. For this reason, its use is mandatory for all occupants of a vehicle and on all types of roads. In addition, the correct use of it is essential to fulfil the purpose for which it was created.

In the monitoring that is done from the air it is appreciated how many occupants of the vehicle either don´t use a seat belt or use it incorrectly, thus reducing the effectiveness of the device.

In Spain, seat belt use is not only monitored by ground patrols on a daily basis, but also by the helicopters and drones operated by the DGT, and hundreds of smart cameras around the network.

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Specialists recommend consuming traditional dishes albeit with controlled use of fat NOT EATING FOOD AT HOME OR EXCESS PROTEIN IN DIETS JEOPARDISE THE VERY BASIS OF THE

MEDITERRANEAN DIET

Spain has become the healthiest country in the world, as showcased in the Bloomberg Healthiest Country index, and much of the success is due to the Mediterranean diet, according to this organisation. “The reason why our diet is considered to be the healthiest worldwide”, according to Rocío Práxedes, dietitian-nutritionist from the Obesity Unit of Quirónsalud Valencia Hospital, “lies in the fat which we are renowned for, such as fat obtained from olive oil, fatty fish and nuts, as well as the proportions of food items we use to make our most traditional dishes where vegetables and legumes prevail over meat and fish.”

Although introducing traditional dishes in our menu such as gazpacho, paella, escalivada or bullit help to prevent cardiovascular diseases, cancer or diabetes, the dietitiannutritionist suggests adjusting the amount of fat that we add to each of these recipes to make them really healthy. “For example,” says the nutritionist, “when we cook a paella or any other dish that needs sofrito (sauté), we must remove fat from other meals of the day so as not to exceed the daily recommended use of four tablespoons of oil. The same applies if we prepare a Spanish omelette. We must also be careful while dressing salads and boiled dishes not to exceed that amount. More fat in the diet means more calories, and if we don't have a very active life, it will lead to body weight gain.” A tip, the specialist suggests to place that daily amount in a glass to administer it better and if any day we need more oil in the food to sauté, choose dinner based on the oil that is still left.

Pitfalls of the Mediterranean diet Although the Mediterranean diet is considered the healthiest in the world, we make many mistakes every day while cooking, shopping or eating itself. “One of the top principles of the Mediterranean diet,” says Carolina Pérez, the nutritionist at the Obesity Unit of Quirónsalud Torrevieja and Murcia hospitals “is that the family eats together and without television, to encourage talking and exchange experiences and knowledge. However, the

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reality is that there are no kitchens without television and routines and schedules allow sharing few family moments.”

Another mainstay of its basis lies in the consumption of fruits, vegetables and greens rich in minerals, fibre, carotenoids, antioxidants and vitamins. According to the specialist, we should daily eat three pieces of fruit, a salad preferably at midday for lunch and heat-processed vegetables at night. “But unfortunately there are already many young people and children who do not meet these health standards for lack of example in their homes,” remarks the nutritionist.

The excessive consumption of protein is another mistake. “It seems that if we do not eat meat every day, we are not well fed,” cautions the specialist, “while it is nutritionally recommended to have twice weekly. We must remember that excess animal protein acidifies our body and promotes the occurrence of diseases, especially if they are processed meat products.”

Finally, the nutritionist advises healthy hydration throughout the day with a minimum daily intake of one and a half litres of water. “But increasingly we drink less water, or what is worse, we replace it with sugar-rich juices or carbonated soft drinks,” she concludes.

About Quirónsalud Quirónsalud is the largest hospital group in Spain and the third largest in Europe. The group has more than 35,000 employees in 120 plus healthcare facilities, including 45 hospitals with 6,800 hospital beds. It employs the most advanced technology and a large team of highly specialised and internationally renowned professionals. Some of its facilities include Teknon Medical Centre, Ruber International, Quirónsalud Madrid University Hospital, Jiménez Díaz Foundation, Quirónsalud Barcelona Hospital, Dexeus University Hospital, Gipuzkoa Policlinic, etc.

The Group strives for the promotion of teaching (eight of its hospitals are university hospitals) and medical and scientific research (it has a Healthcare Research Institute under FJD, the only private research centre accredited by the State Secretariat for Research, Development and Innovation).

Likewise, its care service is organised in transversal units and networks that allows optimising the experience gained at various facilities and translating its research into clinical practice. Currently, Quirónsalud is developing more than 1,600 research projects across Spain, and many of its facilities play a leading role in this area and are pioneers in different specialities such as oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, gynaecology, and neurology, among others.

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2019 Costa Blanca People Culinary Awards

The nomination forms are in and currently being counted for the 2019 Costa Blanca People Culinary Awards. Once again this year, we received an astounding number of nominations for restaurants on the Costa Blanca.

The 2019 Costa Blanca People Culinary Awards, sponsored by Moneycorp, recognize excellence in the local dining industry, offering restaurateurs a standard to strive for, and diners a gauge by which to choose their eatery.

Managing Director of the Costa Blanca People, Claire Richards, said “The Costa Blanca People Culinary Awards are a huge talking point within the industry and we hope that 2019’s awards continue to be an enjoyable and uplifting community event.

The atmosphere is one of support, positivity and of course, healthy competition, and it is a chance for restaurant owners to have a rare night off and be waited on for a N332.es

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change! The finalist restaurants in each category will soon receive a secret visit from one of our judges, posing as an ordinary diner in order for the judging process to be as true to life as possible.”

Claire continued, “We are thrilled to announce that the awards gala is being held at Finca Rebate. After a five year break, we are delighted to return to Rebate – it is a magical place with incredibly high standards of food and service and is the perfect setting for the Culinary Awards.

A three course meal is on offer, followed by entertainment.

If you’d like to be part of the fun, tickets priced at €25 per person are now on sale for the Culinary Awards 2019 Gala Dinner. For reservations, call 966 70 10 60.

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69 44 65 821

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