N332 Roadwatch Issue 02 August 2016

ROADWATCH www.n332.es Issue 02 - August 2016 1,50€

NEW RADARS ON

MOTORBIKES? Maintaining a safe position in the vehicle (avoiding fines or worse) - Child seats - Eco Labels - Orange Lights - Microcars & your licence to drive - Live traffic alerts Bicycles & the law - Animal safety - Test yourself & MORE!

Welcome to N332 RoadWatch Welcome to issue 2 of N332 RoadWatch, our new regular eMagazine. When we released the first issue last month, it was our intention to publish the eMagazine quarterly. Straight away the pressure was on to publish more frequently than we intended, thanks largely to you and your incredible feedback. Therefore, we decided that we had better publish every 2 months. Still your comments and feedback continued and still we felt that even every 2 months isn´t enough, at least not at the moment, and so, as you have probably gathered already, here we are with our now monthly publication.

In case you missed my introduction last week, this might be your first time reading the eMagazine of course, my name is Mark Nolan, one of the people behind the n332.es website and one of the original participants in the project. I will repeat the next part of the introduction too, as it is important. Through our collaboration with the Guardia Civil traffic officers, we are able to ensure that all of the information brought to you is not only up to date, but it is accurate. We are all far too aware of a lot of misinformation being shared, not only through social networks, but even through other means too.

Last month I said that I would tell you more about our exclusive members club. I will, but not yet. Remember, last month we intended to be publishing the next edition in October, not so soon, so you will have to wait a little longer for that.

Now, back to this issue. The cover leads with a question regarding new radars on motorbikes. We answer that question and hopefully clear up some other misunderstandings that often come about regarding “speed traps” and radars.

We have a little bit of an American feel to this issue too. Not just as an excuse for me to dig out a recent picture of me posing with some California Highway Patrol officers, although that was also an interesting experience I will save telling you about for another day, but we have a feature on one of the former stars of the hit television show, CHiPs, who is now living his own dream come true. In the news section we have an interesting story from America too, about a dog! We also have a couple of UK based stories too. By the way, if you are in the UK or around Europe, you can visit our sister website, roadwatch.eu, which covers a lot of information from across the continent and is the next stage of our development. More about that in a future issue too.

We cover child seats, traffic jams, animal safety, Eco labels, fines for cyclists, proposed changes to the UK driving test, yellow lights and more, as well as box a fun and serious quiz so you can test your knowledge.

Meanwhile, if you are a business and would like to get involved by supporting us, in exchange for an advert in these pages or the website, send us an email. Details are in the red box below.

We are now off to start work on the September issue where one of the subjects we will be covering is the breathalyser. Enjoy the rest of your summer and stay safe.

N332 RoadWatch is published by Mark Nolan, an independent and autonomous publicist.

ALL content is protected by international copyright laws and must not be reproduced or copied, in part or in full, without the express permission of the publisher.

For advertising and sales enquiries, please call (0034) 69 44 65 821 or email admin@n332.es.

Website support and development is from MANDAMEDIA.eu The publisher is not responsible for errors and information presented herein is not legally binding.

NEWS CATCH UP X Marks the Spot Roundabout Scammers Investigated

The roads of Madrid will soon be getting a taste of classic Japanese styling, with the installation of a diagonal zebra crossing.

The city council has budgeted for the installation of the crossing at the junction of Goya and Alcalá, one of the most iconic and widely visited areas in the city.

Although the design is believed to have originated in Japan, cities like Los Angeles and London also have diagonal crossings which are designed to speed up the flow of pedestrians who would otherwise have to cross two individual streets separately.

In addition to pedestrians, the council will also provide similar crossing facilities for bicycles, thus aiming to protect two of the most vulnerable groups of road users.

Prison for M1 Protester A man has been sentenced to two years in prison after his actions resulted in a major motorway route being closed for 28 hours.

Nicholas Muton, 45, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance.

Muton staged a protest on the M1 motorway at junction 22 on 12 June when he scaled an overhead stanchion. As a result the southbound carriageway between junction 22 and 23 was closed for 28 hours.

He planned the protest and knew the impact his actions would have on members of the public and the emergency services.

Assistant Chief Constable Phil Kay: “The incident caused gridlock in the areas around the closure and a massive inconvenience to motorists throughout the UK.

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Officers from the Guardia Civil have been investigating nine people believed to be involved in an insurance scam that centred on catching out drivers on roundabouts.

The investigation began in June when officers received several complaints from insurance companies regarding incidents recorded in the Pontevedra area.

Investigators have so far attributed ten cases to the group who would claim for damages and compensation following collisions on roundabouts, a scam that so far exceeds 92,000 euro. In the reported collisions, there was little material damage and yet personal injury claims were always recorded.

The investigation then found that the modus operandi was the same in each incident. The “victim´s” car would be driving around the roundabout correctly in the outermost lane. The driver would then notice a vehicle driving in an inner lane, signalling to leave the roundabout although not being in the correct lane to do so. The scammers would then accelerate into the path of this vehicle, forcing a collision.

As the crash was deemed the fault of the driver in the wrong lane, the scammer would fake injuries, often calling on the police to unknowingly support and witness their charade at the scene, almost guaranteeing a precautionary transfer to hospital.

The medical expenses totalled 14,500 euro whilst the amount of healthcare and recuperation during recovery totalled 78,000 euro worth of claims.

The case has now been handed to the courts in Vigo.

Remember, unless signs or signals indicate otherwise, you should always exit a roundabout from the right-hand, or outermost lane.

Dog Day Afternoon

Two dogs had a lucky escape recently when the car they were driving smashed into the Wall of a Walmart supermarket in the American town in West Virginia. Wait! Who did???

Okay, so there may be a little bit of an exaggeration of the circumstances but the story is true. The owner of the dogs, described as a woman in her 70´s, had left the dogs in the car with the engine running so as they could stay cool in the air conditioned vehicle whilst she went into the store.

Somehow, the dogs managed to take the car out of its “parked” state, allowing it to run forward and hit the wall.

Luckily, nobody was injured in the subsequent bump, although passers-by who went to help were rather surprised to find the two dogs were the only occupants.

Tunnel Troubles A tunnel in Galicia has become infamous in a very short time, with more than six height-related incidents recorded last month alone.

In the most recent incident, a car transporter luckily stopped before attempting to enter the tunnel which was smaller than the height of the vehicle, although in doing so stopped traffic on one of the main streets, plaza de Orense in A Coruña.

The emergency services were called to assist the manoeuvring of the oversized and now stranded vehicle, resulting in major congestion for around 40 minutes whilst the street was entirely blocked.

NEWS CATCH UP Cycle of Honour and Remembrance

Officers from Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police took part in the UK Police Unity Tour (UK PUT) national cycle ride from Friday, 29 July 2016, to honour the service and sacrifice of fallen UK police officers.

ACC Amanda Blakeman and Sgt Laura Wright joined more than 30 police officers and staff who form the East Midlands Chapter of the Tour.

They cycled 180 miles in remembrance of colleagues across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire who tragically lost their lives while serving their communities.

Having already raised £10,000 the team aimedto raise more than £12,000 for the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity.

COPS is a charity that supports the families of officers who have died in the line of duty. They ensure that survivors have all the help they need to cope with such tragedies and they remain as part of the police family.

The team started their ride at Leicestershire Police's force headquarters in Enderby on Friday, 29 July, and cycled to a memorial service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on Sunday, 31 July.

Each rider wore a blue metal wrist band with the name of a fallen colleague they cycled in honour of. At the memorial service riders met with the deceased officers' families and give them the wrist bands.

Before the ride, ACC Amanda Blakeman said: "Laura and I are riding for COPS because it is important to remember those who have lost their lives serving their communities. We will be riding for our friend and colleague PC442 Tony Wright who tragically lost his life while on duty in August 2011. Tony was a keen cyclist having completed the London To Paris cycle ride for charity" For updates you can follow @PoliceTour on Twitter for updates and if you would like to donate you can do so at the charity based website page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Laura-WrightAmanda-Blakeman

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NEWS CATCH UP Gas for Guardia Civil New Vehicles Delivered

Power supply company Gas Natural have collaborated with car manufacturer Seat in order to deliver the first natural gas powered vehicle to the Guardia Civil.

The vehicle is part of the current agreement between the energy group and the institution of public safety for environmental performance improvement and energy efficiency.

The vehicle was delivered at a ceremony attended by the Managing Director of Gas Natural, Manuel Gil, and the director general of the Guardia Civil, Arsenio Fernรกndez de Mesa, after a collaboration agreement was reached between the energy supplier and the Guardia Civil last October.

Among other initiatives, the agreement includes studies to improve the efficiency of buildings and facilities for the general management of the Guardia Civil, as well as analysis incorporating the use of natural gas in the park land and maritime vehicles with the aim of improving environmental performance and efficiency.

The Guardia Civil has taken delivery of 110 new vehicles valued at 3,083,008.50 euro.

The vehicles were presented to the corps by Director General Arsenio Fernรกndez de Mesa, at the Colegio de Guardias Jรณvenes de Valdemoro in Madrid.

These particular vehicles will join the fleet responsible for public safety and security, with over a hundred more due for delivery before the end of the year.

In 2014, the Guardia Civil took delivery of 195 new cars which were added to the fleet, and with 2.5 million euro investment being given by the European Union, 400 vehicles have been replaced or renewed in the last 2 years.

Re-appeal for witnesses following M5 crash Police are re-appealing for witnesses after a motorcyclist on a red and silver Kawasaki crashed into the central reservation on the M5 motorway on Thursday 14 July.

Peter Smith, aged 57 from Wolverhampton, was seriously injured in the collision on thenorthbound carriageway between junctions 3 and 2 at around 3.40pm.

The motorway was closed for several hours while emergency services were called and Mr Smith (pictured with his granddaughter) was taken to hospital, where he remains in a stable condition with multiple fractures.

Anyone with information is urged to call PC Byrne on 101 in the UK. Alternatively people can leave information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers the independent charity on 0800 555 111.

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Torrevieja to Finally Get Widened N-332 One person was killed and another four injured, two of them seriously, following a head-on collision between two cars on the N-332 main road near La Marina. This crash came exactly a year to the day when five vehicles collided in the area near to the desalination plant at Torrevieja.

Both these incidents, any many more besides, occurred on stretches of the road where there is one lane of traffic in each direction and no physical barrier between the two flows of traffic. For years campaigners have been fighting to have the Torrevieja section widened to two lanes in each direction, the same as the N-332 road on both sides of the town, although it has evolved more into a political Ping-Pong game than anybody actually taking responsibility and trying to enforce the change, not only in order to save lives, but also to ease the congestion that in inevitable at certain times of year, such as summer, when the road is brought to a standstill for much of the day.

In terms of the danger element, there is an argument that there is no such thing as a dangerous road, in the same way that many people argue that it´s not guns that kill people, it´s people who kill people. Those arguments carry some validity, but if anything can be done to reduce or eradicate danger, then it should be done.

There are laws on gun use which seemingly prevents a lot of intentional killings, there is also an element of morality in most civilised society that automatically prevents most people from wanting to intentionally take a life. However, there are also laws that should prevent drivers from speeding, driving too close, using their mobile phones, consuming alcohol, and many others, and although some actions are becoming so-

cially unacceptable, it is still commonplace for the laws of the roads to be ignored, despite the fact that these laws are also intended to preserve life.

The good news is, and without pandering to any political point scoring, the widening of the road in the Torrevieja area may finally become a reality, as the mayor of Torrevieja, José Manuel Dolón, announced at a press conference the “release” of the administrative and technical stoppage, thus confirming that “there are no more excuses because the ministry of Public works and has all the documentation” and that the widening works “can start as soon as it is tendered”, a situation that Dolón described as “very satisfying”.

Dolón explained how the government has been active trying to involve all agencies and entities in order to ensure the project is completed in the optimum time, quoting letters he has written and a response from the Directorate General of Traffic “sharing” the concerns of the government on account of the route between kilometre marker posts 49 and 56 being a notorious black spot.

Dolón also described it as “shameful” that it has taken 20 years to reach this point, but once complete it should not only save countless lives on the roads it will also reinvigorate Torrevieja and its businesses to the benefit of all.

The situation will not yet change on any other parts of the road such as in the La Marina area where this latest tragic incident took place, but it is hoped that through awareness of the dangers of the roads we can all try to do our bit in the meantime to try to keep everybody that little bit safer by ensuring safer driving at all times.

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Looking for Car Hire?

It comes as no surprise to anybody who knows them or have used their services, but Al Andalus Car Hire has been going from strength to strength over the last few years, so much so they are about to celebrate their 4,000th booking. For one lucky person, the one who is that 4,000th, you will get a week’s car hire for free in celebration, although with such competitively priced hire services, everybody is already a winner.

As a supporter of the N332 project from day 1, we know all too well of owner David Baxter´s commitment.

Whenever we are involved in one of our charity campaigns, it is guaranteed that David pulls out all the stops to make sure he is there supporting us in any way that he and his team can.

David started Al Andalus Car Hire in 2010 with the intention of providing a service to a number of urbanisations in the local area. However very early on one client gave such a great review on www.eyeonspain.com, the result was a rapid expansion of the business.

They are based in Vera, Almeria, but operate from all of the popular airports across Almeria, Murcia and Alicante, as well as their local area.

At Alicante-Elche and Murcia-San Javier airports they work with Seguro Parking who meet the clients just outside the terminal building with their car, so there is no running around and queuing for hours on end just to find out where to pick up a car.

All the paperwork is done before the

clients arrive, so that too means less time at the airport when you get off the plane and typically you will be on your way to your holiday within 10 minutes of collecting your luggage.

All vehicles set off with a full fuel tank, they ask that you return it full too, so there is no excessive premiums to pay for filling the car and the hire includes one main and one additional driver, so you can share the holiday drive experience. Plus, they don´t take large deposits on credit cards like some other companies and are happy to accept standalone excess waiver policies.

As for the vehicles, the fleet is made up of quality, reliable vehicles, such as Seat Ibizas, Skoda Fabias and Dacia Sanderos, but they also have Ford Focus size cars and the 7-seater Opel Zafiras.

Make sure you take a look at their website for more information but when you do keep one thing in mind.

Although they will never beat the headline prices offered by the large car hire companies, the difference is that the price they quote is the price you pay, there are no hidden extras or supplements. Make the comparison with that in mind and the final price offered by other companies and you will soon see where to find value for your money, Al Andalus Car Hire.

The entire team are very friendly and approachable, and their level of service is impeccable with all emails usually answered the same day, but always within 24 hours, and everyone is personal, not a computer generated

automatic reply.

By the way, they can also provide baby, child and booster seats at a small additional cost. They can also accommodate collection and delivery at different airports subject to a one way drop off fee, and of course availability.

You don´t have to take our word for it though, have a read of some of the genuine comments they have had from their clients so far.

Just a quick message to say thank you for arranging the car hire for us. The car was fab and we met Dave in Vera Playa on Monday to settle up with him. Everything really good and the guys were there at Murcia to return the car. Thanks very much – take care and we will certainly use you again when next in Spain. (Julie S) Just wanted to say what a joy the car hire was. It was true how quick and easy picking up the car was with no queuing, not having to get all documents out and most of all getting out of the airport and on our way to the apartment also, no hidden extras!!!!

We would DEFINENTLY use your service again. (Dorothy R) I just wanted to say what excellent service we received from your company when hiring the hire car in Alicante recently. The pick up and drop off couldn't have been easier or smoother and was such a treat! The car was great, and dealing with you has been a pleasure. We will certainly be contacting you again for next year and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you. (Debbie O) Just a quick message to say thank you very much for the car hire & information. The collection & drop off of the car was excellent, also meet Dave who was very helpful If we return to that area we will certainly use you again (Philip C) I would just like to say how delighted we were with the car hire arrangements. It was wonderful to be able to drive away within minutes of landing and with no paperwork to complete.

The return was even easier with Seguro Parking waving us down as we arrived at the airport. We will certainly be using you again on our next visit! Well done for a super service!

(Allan S)

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Where there´s a Waze!

Getting stuck in traffic is always frustrating, even for the calmest of drivers.

But what if there was a way of knowing about traffic queues in advance, perhaps live from the queue, as fellow motorists share the information with you, thus allowing you to plan a

new route and avoid any congestion.

Well, that fantasy is actually a reality, thanks to Waze, a crowd-sourced information exchange application that allows motorists to share live traffic information.

According to their own promotional material, “Waze is all about c o n tributing to t h e 'common good' o u t there on the road”.

By connecting drivers to one another, they help

people create local driving communities that work together to improve the quality of everyone's daily driving. That might mean helping them avoid the frustration of sitting in traffic, cluing them in to a police trap or shaving five minutes off of their regular commute by showing them new routes they never even knew about.

So, how does it work?

After typing in your destination address, users just drive with the app open on their phone to passively contribute traffic and other road data, but they can also take a more active role by sharing road reports on accidents or any other hazards along the way, helping to give other users in the area a 'heads-up' about

what's to come.

In addition to the local communities of drivers using the app, Waze is also home to an active community of online map editors who ensure that the data in their areas is as up-to-date as possible.

You can download the app to your mobile device, just search for Waze in the app or play store.

Remember though, when you are driving, you must not touch your device.

Get your passenger to report problems, but at least you will be aware of what´s to come and have a totally free intelligent guidance system to help you to your destination safely and promptly, perhaps even avoiding the summer traffic.

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Making Wild Animals Safer N332 were contacted by a Guardia Civil officer from Murcia who wanted us to share information about a device which he not only thinks is a great invention, but it is also a potential life saver.

In his own time, the officer is a motorcyclist for both everyday transportation and also pleasure. One of the biggest hazards whilst riding through the country roads of Murcia s the appearance of wild animals. Incidentally, Murcia is one of the regions of Spain where wildlife is particularly protected and there are road signs throughout much of the region advising drivers to slow down and be alert.

However, although the drivers may well heed the

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signs, the animals are often still complacent and wander into the road without warning.

That is where devices such as Save-A-Deer and Deer Alert come in.

They are small audible devices, which humans can´t hear by the way, which create a noise which increases with volume as the vehicle ap-

proaches the animals.

The wildlife become aware of the approaching danger well in advance and react appropriately, usually by leaving the area.

They are humane devices and cause no harm to the animals, they simply provide an audible warning. Although SaveA-Deer and Deer Alert

are two of the biggest brands, it is not only dears that are protected, other animals hear the warning too.

Of course the installation of the device should not mean that the driver or rider can become complacent through a false sense of immortality, but they do help in reducing the possible impact with animals and anything which reduces risk can only be a good thing.

We have chosen some of our favourites and listed them on the n332.es website for you to look at, alternatively check out your local supplier and you can do your bit to not only reduce risk to yourself, but also the delicate environment and ecosystem.

“A Dream Come True” Many an adult of today will remember watching the California Highway Patrol officers with some awe as throughout the 80´s CHiPs played a part in their childhood entertainment and, in some cases, education, but when fantasy mixes with reality it becomes an almost surreal experience.

However, that is precisely what has happened for one of the stars of the show, Erik Estrada, who has been sworn in as a police reserve in East Idaho.

Having spent many years on two wheels pretending to be a police officer, 67-year old Erik has described his recruitment as a “dream come true”.

However, don´t be too concerned that Officer Frank “Ponch” Poncherello will be riding alongside motorists and pulling them over as Erik has turned his attention to the internet and, in particular, to protecting children from internet predators.

With a population of 3,500 residents, the Mayor of St. Anthony, Neils Thueson, swore Estrada into office in the City Hall, after which “Ponch” spent time with the other serving officers and their families in a “meet and greet” at the local school.

It has been little publicised but Estrada has spent the past decade working with various law enforcement departments to try to keep children safe on-line and now wants to be a figurehead in reminding everybody how important it is to teach children what not to do whilst on the web.

Estrada grew up wanting to become a cop thanks to his mother’s friendship with a renowned serving police officer but the acting bug took over in high school. He promised his mother that if he didn´t make a career out of acting by the time he was 30 then he would return to New York and become a police officer. He landed the role of “Ponch” at the age of 27 and remained in the role until 1983, financially supporting his mother so that she no longer had to work, and she hasn´t since.

Estrada became a Reserve Police Officer in Muncie, Indiana almost immediately after leaving ChiPs and took to working nights so as not to draw attention to himself. He later became aware of the power and force of the internet and its predators, thus prompting him to find his vocation and subsequently set up a foundation to help protect vulnerable children from internet enticement.

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Maintaining a Proper Position As the summer is in full swing, the near unbearable heat takes its toll, many of us choose to dress down a little, wearing light clothing to ease the flow of air around our bodies, shorts and flimsy tops are the norm, and the laid back feeling of long hot summer days starts to take over.

However, as many of us do start to feel more relaxed and lazing on a sunny afternoon, the motor vehicle is not the place to exercise such activities, not only for drivers, but passengers too. Maintaining a proper position in the vehicle is not only important for our comfort, it is crucial for our safety.

When used correctly, the vehicle´s seats and features offer the maximum protection in the event of a collision.

If we do anything to change the characteristics of these features, we risk our safety tremendously.

The trouble is, it is easy to forget about the safety features when we are weighed down by the summer, but putting our feet on the dashboard, or the seat for that matter, arms waving out the windows, not wearing our seatbelt correctly are all an absolute NO. Arms and legs should be kept inside the protective shell of the vehicle. Sticking your head, arms or legs out of the window is not a very good idea.

There are countless documented cases of motorists suffering serious injury when “clipped” by a passing car, as well as the more gruesome stories of the loss of limbs in the event of a crash. Having an arm out of the window also poses a risk to other road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists. Being able to put your head out of the window implies that the seatbelt is not worn correctly. If your body parts are not within the safety cage of the vehicle, then you are at risk and are risking others.

Arms extended from the vehicle may also confuse other road users who might think that you are giving hand signals, thus posing a risk

that those drivers may incorrectly react to what they think you are gesturing. Visibility may also be obscured as a result, blocking the vehicle´s mirrors and making it difficult to observe the vehicle surroundings correctly.

Even within the vehicle there is a serious risk of injury if you are not sitting correctly. An all too common sight in the summer months in particular is a car passenger with their feet up on the dashboard, a practice that is not only illegal, but is extremely dangerous.

In the event of a crash, if a passenger is travelling with their feet up on the dashboard, the injuries that may occur will be very serious, partly as the deployment of the airbag can cause more serious injuries than it prevents in this situation, and, irrespective of an airbag being present, the glass from the windscreen can cause serious injury, not to mention the effects of a passenger being crushed by the impact between the dashboard and the seat.

In addition to the increase in occurrences of this sort of behaviour, there is also an increase in the number of fines issues as the traffic police try to not only advise drivers of the problem, they try and enforce remembrance through the issuing of fines. Incidentally, in the event of a passenger putting their feet on the dashboard, it is the driver who is ultimately responsible for the safety of the vehicle and, as such, it is the driver who will be fined.

Article 18, Section 1 of Royal Decree 1428/2003 of 21 November, approving the Rules of the road, states that “The driver of a vehicle must maintain their own freedom of movement, the required field of vision and permanent attention to driving, to ensure their own safety, that of other vehicle occupants and other road users. To achieve this, you must take special care to maintain the proper position and that of the passengers, and the proper placement of objects or animals transported so that there can be no interference between the driver and any of them“.

Keeping both hands on the steering wheel, not leaning with an elbow on the window, keeping your arms inside the vehicle may have been the repetitive messages our driving

14

instructor taught us when we first took lessons, but the advice is still very much key to a safe driving experience.

Offence: Failing to maintain the proper position in the vehicle.

This can refer to passengers with their feet on the dashboard, drivers with their arms out the window, or any other situation where proper posture is not maintained.

Fine: 80 euro.

The three-point seatbelt, which is fitted as standard to most modern vehicles, has an upper (thoracic) and a lower band (pelvic). Both must be snugly fitting against the body. For the seatbelt to offer maximum protection it must be on the hard parts of the body, leaning against the collarbone, halfway between the shoulder and neck at the top, and the iliac crest of the pelvis, never on the abdomen.

Accessories such as cushions or other additions should not be used. Once you have pulled the seatbelt across your body and secured the strap in the locked position, make sure that the seatbelt is not twisted at any point. If it is, undo the seatbelt and remove the twists. Once secure, pull the seatbelt so that it fits snugly against the body, with any slack being taken back at the top.

If the seatbelt is not worn correctly, it can cause further problems in the event of a collision. For example, if the upper band is taken off the shoulder, it can cause a head impact with the windscreen, dashboard or seat in front.

It can also produce cervical lesions.

Reason: There are many reasons why this rule is important. For example, in the event of impact, the injuries sustained by a person with their feet on the dashboard are nothing less than horrific. The same goes for instances where limbs have been lost or severely injured on account of them protruding from the vehicle. Plus, the seats in a vehicle are designed to give maximum protection, and comfort, and not being correctly positions poses a risk, and can hinder visibility by the driver.

The correct wearing of the seat belt is also crucial. Not wearing it over your shoulder and across the torso is the same as not wearing it at all. That is why the fine for wearing a seat belt incorrectly is 200€, the same as if you weren´t wearing it at all.

Seatbelts are designed for one purpose only, to save lives. Statistics show that by wearing a seatbelt the probability of death when involved in a collision is halved, whereas according to the data from the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) and the Instituto Universitario de Tráfico y Seguridad Vial (INTRAS), the risk of death is cut by a staggering 77% in an overturned vehicle.

However, in order for the seatbelt to be effective, it must be worn correctly, in order for it to fulfil the function it is designed for fully.

The correct way to wear the seatbelt is for it to go across the torso diagonally, and across the waist, firmly secured in these positions. The top part must be on the hard part of the collarbone, halfway between the shoulder and the neck. The lower end sits against the hardness of the pelvis.

If the belt is not firm around the body it can cause the vehicle to slide under the belt, casing lower body and spinal injuries. This is often referred to as the “submarine effect”. To prevent “submarining”, the vehicle occupants must also sit in a proper position when riding in the vehicle, with the seatbelt securely fastened as mentioned, and without having any additions such as pillows or cushions which may contribute to the reduction of effectiveness of the seatbelt.

It is also important to remember the one seatbelt – one seat rule. All vehicle occupants are obliges to wear a seatbelt, both in the front and the back seats. Some vehicles only have two seatbelts in the back for example, and so that vehicle can only carry two passengers on that seat.

There are other rules regarding children in cars. Primarily, children under 1.35 metres in height are not allowed to travel in the front seats and they most use an appropriate restraining system for their height and weight.

Proper Use of the Seat Belt 1. Never wear the seat belt loose because the function is to protect you.

2. Never pass the seat belt under the arm, because it will not stop you effectively in the event of an impact.

3. Never carry children on your knees or lap, only in approved seats for their age and weight.

4. Never recline in the seat because you could slip below the seat belt in the event of an impact.

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100,000 More Eco Stickers Distributed Over the next few weeks or so, 100,000 vehicle owners across Spain will receive a letter from the DGT which details their vehicle´s eco-friendly characteristics, and provides a sticker to display in the vehicle which denotes the eco classification.

Many owners have already received theirs, especially in the Madrid and Barcelona areas, where 41,000 cars and light vans have already qualified.

Within the 100,000 vehicles listed in an ECO category are passenger cars, light vans, vehicles with over 8 seats and plug-in hybrid vehicles with range of less than 40 km, not pluggable hybrid vehicles, powered by natural gas, natural gas-powered vehicles or liquefied petroleum gas vehicles.

Placing the sticker on the vehicle is voluntary, but it is advisable as it then highlights the environmentally friendly rating of the vehicle, which will also add value if the vehicle becomes for sale. The DGT is advising that the sticker be placed in the lower right corner of the front windshield, where the ITV sticker will be at the top, or, failing that, at any visible location in the vehicle.

This latest batch of stickers is the second to be issued, since the DGT launched the campaign in April of 2015, sending the distinctive Zero Emission category sticker to more than 10,000 vehicle owners.

What is the environmental badge?

This categorization originates in the National Plan of air Quality and Protection of the Atmosphere 2013-2016 (Plan Aire) which stated that both particles and nitrogen dioxide are the main source of emissions from road traffic in large cities and proposes the classification of vehicles based on the levels of pollution they emit.

This measure aims to positively discriminate towards more environmentally respectful vehicles and be an effective tool in municipal policies, both in restricting traffic which causes high pollution, and through the promotion of new technologies through tax or relative benefits to the mobility and the environment.

The vehicle classification is entered in the national vehicle register of the DGT and the same can be accessed in real-time by those bodies dealing with mobility, traffic, security or tax on the environment.

The criteria for classifying the vehicle fleet are as a result of long and deliberate work led by the DGT which involved, amongst others, the Madrid City Council, the City of Barcelona, the Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia (RACC) the National Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers (ANFAC), the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism.

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The Classifications There are four classifications in the national vehicle register of the DGT based on environmental concerns.

ZERO EMISSIONS Mopeds, tricycles, quadricycles and motorcycles; cars; light vans, vehicles over 8 seats and vehicles transporting goods classified in the Register of Vehicles of the DGT as battery electric vehicles (BEV), electric vehicles with extended range (REEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) with a minimum range of 40 kilometres or fuel cell vehicles.

ECO Cars, light vans, vehicles over 8 seats and vehicles transporting goods classified in the Register of Vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles with less than 40km autonomy, none plug -in hybrid vehicles (HEV) powered by natural gas, vehicles powered by natural gas (CNG and LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). In any case, they must meet the criteria of the label C. C Petrol fuelled passenger cars and light vans registered from January 2006 and diesel vehicles from 2014. Those with more than 8 seats and freight, both petrol and diesel, registered from 2014. Diesel vehicles must meet the Euro 4,5 and 6 standard.

B Petrol passenger cars and light vans registered from January 2000 and diesel vehicles registered from January 2006. Vehicles with more than 8 seats and freight both petrol and diesel registered from 2005. Diesel vehicles must meet Euro 3 and Euro Diesel 4 and 5 standards.

Categorising the entire fleet With this second batch of stickers, the DGT is well on its way to reaching its aim of classifying and labelling the 32 million vehicles on the roads of Spain.

The next wave of the campaign will commence in September and will then allow each local authority with jurisdiction in matters relating to taxation, mobility and the environment to decide what incentives they can offer to less polluting vehicles in their area of competence.

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Child Seats Recent changes to the laws in Spain state that children measuring 135 cm in height or less must ride in the rear seats of a vehicle, irrespective of their age, and must sit in the correct and approved seat appropriate to their size and weight.

The Child Restraint Systems provide the best protection for a child when on board a vehicle. That is why the law dictates their use, in an attempt to enforce the maximum protection for children.

The use of child restraint systems reduces injuries by up to 75% in the event of a collision. According to data from the DGT, road traffic incidents are the leading cause of death amongst children under 14 years of age, and, tragically, 40% of those children who lose their lives wore no protection system, and, according to the statistics, could well be alive today.

The law also requires seats to be of an approved standard.

Those which meet the minimum required standards carry an orange label, usually located at the rear, which guarantees that the seat has undergone a series of tests to prove safety and reliability.

The approval system is based on a European standard and EU regulation ECE-R44.03, which also ensures certain information is listed on the label.

Classification of Child Seats There are a number of classifications for car seats which are based on the physical characteristics of the child, the most important being weight and age.

Group 0 This category includes the baby from birth through 1 year. It can be used for children up to 10 kilos of weight. There are two elements that are typically used either a bassinet with harnesses to locate in the rear seats and which engages the seat belt or a child safety seat slightly tilted that may be placed in the front seat in the opposite direction of travel, or at the rear, in which case it is preferable to place it in the centre so as to minimize possible damage in the event of a side collision. If placed in the front, we must ensure that the airbag device for the passenger seat is disconnected. It is safest to place it in the back seat in the opposite direction of travel.

Group 0+ It is a new category that extends the weight up to 13 kg and for children up to 18 months. It is a chair that normally sits on the back seats and in the opposite direction of travel so as to better protect against any collision. Placing the chair in this way further protects the neck and spine.

Group I Children weighing between 9 and 18 kilos, and approximately 1 to 4 years. The chairs are hooked in the seat belt of the vehicle. They are always located facing the direction of travel, using the fitted vehicle seat belt or an extension on the chair itself. The latter incorporate a harness of 4 or 5 points of anchorage.

Group II For children 3 to 6 years, which with a weight between 15 and 25 kilos. It consists of or booster cushion with backrest provided with lateral protection for the head and is fitted at the rear in the direction of travel and, if possible, in the centre. You should include lateral guides to position the belt tight at the hips, avoiding injuries in the abdominal cavity or column.

Group III For children between 5 and 12 years, weighing between 22 and 36 kilos. It is a booster cushion, possibly backed with side and head protection and height adjustment, so as to allow it to be vehicle seat belt to fit firmly over the child's collarbone.

Tips for buying a chair Before purchasing a child seat, check your vehicle manual for instructions on how to secure the seat and to ensure it is compatible.

Take your vehicle to the location where you are purchasing the chair and ask them to demonstration assembly. Do it yourself in the presence of the seller.

Take your child and try the chair in order to verify that the child can sit comfortably and safely.

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New Radars on Motorbikes?

Last month, we mentioned about new radar speed detectors that can be carried on motorbikes, part of a new range of equipment purchased by the Spanish government to improve road safety.

Since then, the internet has gone wild with stories about these radars with some old myths resurfacing and a lot of speculation becoming accepted as fact.

This month, we thought we would clear up some of the confusion caused by these speculative articles by giving you the facts about roadside radars and speed detectors.

First of all, when we said “The DGT has spent a million euro on new mobile cameras which can be carried by traffic police on their motorcycles”, that sentence is entirely accurate. These cameras and radar detectors are not installed on the motorbikes, they are carried on them, in the panniers, allowing the officers to set up temporary detection zones in the most in just about any location.

There are some places in Australia and Poland for example where radars are fitted to the motorbikes, but in Spain, the Guardia Civil do not have such a feature.

The question is how does this speculation come about? Well, this time, it has been caused by two very different source images.

Firstly, as we also explained last month, the Guardia Civil officers have taken to t h e roads on new motorbikes.

The front of these motorbikes are very different to the previous ones and there are pieces of

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equipment which are now more visible. We showed you one of these on the cover of this issue of N332 Roadwatch, a cylindrical protrusion. This, some people believe, is a radar camera. It is not, it is a light. In fact there are two of them and they are the lights which flash red to advise a vehicle in front to stop.

It is true that they look a little bit like a camera though, in fact they look a lot like some other images which have also been printed in some newspapers of a camera on a Guardia Civil motorbike.

These images are very real, although they are now quite old. They are cameras but they have no means of detecting, monitoring or reporting speed. In fact, they were part of a pilot scheme to test what we know as ANPR, Automatic Number Plate Recognition, designed to monitor vehicles looking for those without tax or insurance for example. Some 300 bikes were fitted with the equipment, they were part of a test some years ago, and are not in service right now.

Whilst we are on the subject, another image has started doing the rounds again, that of a radar detector hidden in a roof box of a car. The first thing to point out is that the Guardia Civil do not use any kind of underhand, obscure detection equipment. They use unmarked vehicles, although there is a discussion taking place at the moment with a view to potentially stopping this practice and only using marked vehicles, but they always attempt to make road users aware of their presence by using signs warning they are there. IN fact it is not the aim of the Guardia Civil to catch motorists speeding, it is their aim to slow traffic down to an acceptable and legal rate.

Secondly, the geodata in the image reveals that the car with the hidden equipment in the roof box is parked on the forecourt of Opel Crissier - Milliet SA, Chemin de l'Esparcette 6, 1023 Crissier, Suisse. That´s Switzerland to you and me.

So now we have cleared up the confusion, perhaps we can explain some of the actual equipment being used on the roads right now in Spain, which includes monitoring devices for speed, but also for drivers who skip trough red lights, and, more recently, such bad practices as using a mo-

NO! The Myths Busted! bile phone and the use of seatbelts, like Traffic Eye we looked at last month.

Here are the five types of monitoring devices currently in use.

1. Fixed Cameras: These devices are nicknamed “speed traps without operators” as they are located along the road network, usually at the side of the road, or sometimes on poles or across the carriageway, and monitor vehicles as they pass, recording those who exceed the maximum permitted limit. The newer versions of these cameras can also look for seatbelt use and for drivers using a mobile phone.

2. Mobile Radars: These operate with an operator, or usually a small team, and are often in unmarked Guardia Civil vehicles, as well as those in marked cars belonging to traffic law enforcement groups, including the DGT themselves. Depending on the type of equipment, the recording vehicle can either be static or moving. The newer models are small enough to be carried on a motorbike and so two officers can set up independent monitoring locations along the same stretch.

3. Fixed-Section Radars: These devices operate over a fixed distance of road and monitor the average speed between two points on that section.

These devices are often considered to give a more realistic impression of recorded speed as the driver doesn´t usually react instantly when they see one, and so the average reading is a more likely speed recorded.

The camera at point “A” records the number plate as the vehicle passes, including the date and time. Using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, the car is then recorded as it passes point “B”, and the time it has taken to cover that distance recorded. If the journey has registered an average speed above the permitted limit then the details are sent to a central processing point where the fine is automatically processed and sent to the driver.

4. Red-Light Cameras: This type of equipment does not measure the speed of a vehicle but takes a photograph if the vehicle has failed to stop at a red light.

5. Pegasus Equipped Helicopters: Pegasus is the name of a recording device fitted to most of the DGT´s traffic helicopters. Distinctive by their yellow and light blue colouring, these “eyes in the sky” can catch offending motorists from a kilometre away and at a height of 300 metres, recording the average speed and vehicle characteristics, as well as monitoring for other traffic violations.

Once the infraction is recorded the data is sent immediately to a central processing point, the Centro de Tratamiento de Denuncias Automatizadas, or ESTRADA, where a fine is automatically issued. In the event of a serious offence, the helicopter crew will summon ground crews to intercept the vehicle.

There is also another monitoring device which is sometimes confusing to motorists, as these metal boxes live alongside the road network but have no visible means of taking a picture. They are identifiable by a square marking in the lane nearby, which is a monitoring sensor, sending information to the roadside box. These devices are used to monitor traffic flow statistics and are not used in enforcement, which is why they have no means of recording individual vehicle details.

They are able to record the vehicle type and the number of vehicles using an area, providing essential data to road planners.

In total, across Spain, there are currently 800 fixed cameras, 16 FixedSection Radars and Pegas u s equipped h e l i copters, as well as countless patrols from both the Guardia Civil and the police.

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Do I Have to Stop at an Orange Light?

The rules regarding traffic lights are covered by the Reglamento General de Circulación, or the general driving laws. In particular, Article 146.

In Article 146 it details how a steady red light means stop and prohibits vehicles from passing it, and, where it exists, the accompanying white stop line. Similarly, where the red light is displayed beyond a junction, the vehicle must not cross or block that junction when a red light is displayed, stopping at the stop line where it exists.

However, the question here relates to an orange light, but we have to be clear of the red light rules before we can explain this. Where a static (nonflashing) orange light is displayed at traffic lights, the same rules apply as if it were red. You must stop. The only exception being if you are unable to stop your vehicle safely in the time you are approaching, although this can be lessened by anticipating the light change sequence.

On the other hand, if that orange light is flashing, it means that drivers may proceed, with extreme caution and, if necessary, giving way to other road users who have priority. The flashing orange light does not replace any other light, and so a stop indication will always take priority.

This sort of light is common at junctions where vehicle wishing to proceed forward are stopped by a red light, whereas vehicles turning right, for example, may be permitted to proceed with caution and giving way as necessary, such as to vehicles on the main road or pedestrians.

Remember, static red or orange means stop.

Flashing orange means give way but you must proceed with extreme caution.

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Art 146.

Semáforos circulares para vehículos c) Una luz amarilla no intermitente significa que los vehículos deben detenerse en las mismas condiciones que si se tratara de una luz roja fija

Up to 500€ Fines for Cyclists It is probably safe to say that all road users have witnessed a bicycle rider going through a red light or riding on the pavement, a practice that many find frustrating, but always one that raises the same question, are cyclists allowed to do such things?

The simple answer is NO. In terms of law, once a bicycle is being ridden it is classed as a vehicle and therefore covered by the same rules and laws as a car, a truck, a bus, in fact any other vehicle on the road. It is only when the rider dismounts and walks with the bicycle is it considered otherwise. In this instance, the situation means that the person has become a pedestrian. That is the same reason why cyclists cannot ride across zebra crossings, because we wouldn´t expect a truck to do that, and the rider must dismount before they do.

Listening to music using headphones or using a mobile phone when riding a bike are prohibited in the same way as they are for other vehicles.

Consuming more than the prescribed limit of alcohol or using drugs is also not allowed, as a cyclist you are governed by the rules of the road.

Just so you know what you are risking, let´s have a look at some of the most common infractions.

Not having a bell on your bicycle – 80€ Faulty or no brakes – 80€ Carrying an extra person on the bicycle – 80€ Failing to stop at a traffic light – 200€ Failing to give way at a junction – 200€ Not having lights – 200€ Having too many lights – 200€ Failing to wear high visibility clothing between sunset and sunrise and in poor visibility – 200€ Riding under the influence of alcohol – 500€ There are many other laws and infractions commonly committed by cyclists, as well as other road users of course. We will look at these in more detail in future editions, but for now, take note, you can indeed be fined on your bike and remember that one golden rule, when you are riding your bike, it is a vehicle and governed by the same rules and laws as every other vehicle.

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Grab Yourself a Bargain

As a little fun feature this month we decided to troll through Ebay and look for some of the police related memorabilia on sale.

Actually, we first stumbled across the CHiPs motorbike for sale and as that fitted in with some of the other features this month we thought it would be a great idea to feature it.

Then we found an incredible number of items for sale, not only vehicles but items of clothing, furniture, books, the range was quite astounding, but what we thought we would do it pick out some of our favourites and showcase them here.

Some of these items have already sold though, and we are not trying to sell you the others, but go and have a look yourself at Ebay and see what you can find.

Remember though, if you do buy an ex-police or other emergency vehicle, you´re not allowed to have the coloured lights on show and you must also cover any lettering that says “Police” for example, when out on the open road. There are other restrictions too, but feel free to contact us if you want more advice and we will gladly help, in exchange for a play with your new toy.

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Kawasaki K1000P Motorcycle CHIPS Police Bike Bids: 32 Sold for: £2,775.00

Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 jtdm Carabinieri Police Bids: 0 Starting price: £3,500.00

Mercury Monterey Police car Bids: 1 Sold for: £5,000.00

american police motor cycle helmet chips style Sold for: £40

Kawasaki z1000 vintage 1983 restored ex police Listed at: £1,999.00

Triumph TR6P 1972 EX Police Listed at: £6,950.00

Ex Police BMW 850 RTP Listed at: £3,200.00

Classic Car Ex Police Listed at: £4,000.00

U.K. Driving test consultation: The UK Government has launched a consultation on changes to the driving test. They have also provided details of these proposals, as they are encouraging the public to get involved in the process.

In particular, they are looking to provoke discussion and consultation between certain groups such as teachers, parents and school pupils, as well as colleagues I the driver training industry, so as to explain why these changes will better prepare new drivers and improve road safety.

The proposals are to: • increase the ‘independent driving’ part of the test from 10 to 20 minutes • ask candidates to follow directions on a sat nav as an alternative to following road signs • replace current manoeuvres such as ‘reverse around a corner’ with more real life scenarios for example, driving into and reversing out of a parking bay • ask one of the two vehicle safety questions while the candidate is driving, for example, asking candidates to use the rear heated screen Why we need to do something Road collisions are the biggest killer of young people Young people are a vulnerable group. of road users. We all know this.

Road traffic collisions: • are the leading cause of death for people aged between 15 and 24 • account for over a quarter of all deaths of those aged between 15 and 19 One in 5 people killed or seriously injured on the roads are

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in a collision where a car driver is aged between 17 and 24.

Most fatal collisions are on rural roads Most deaths happen on rural roads. These are roads where the speed limit is 40 mph or faster (this doesn’t include motorways).

At the moment it’s not always possible to use these types of roads in the driving test because: • driving test routes rely on good signage for candidates to follow - and these don’t always lead to rural or other higher risk roads • access is needed to side roads and other quieter roads to carry out the current manoeuvres I want to make changes to the format of the test so more higher risk roads can be used. The introduction of following directions from a sat nav will open up these types of roads.

Driving test candidates need to be better prepared Research shows that some learner drivers only learn what they need to so they can pass the driving test. This causes them to take their test before they’re properly ready, which results in a lower overall driving test pass rate.

The proposed changes explained

Casualties by severity and road type, GB: 2015; Source: 'Reported road casualties in Great Britain: main results 2015' (Department for Transport) I also want parents, relatives and friends to understand the importance of getting the best training available. We’ll be publishing a blog post about this in the coming weeks.

Like a real journey The driving test can’t cover all of what learners need to know but where new drivers tend to get it wrong are when they are confronted by fast rural roads and complex junctions so the test will focus on these higher risk areas.

I want the test to be like a real journey and by making use of sat nav we can see that new drivers can manage this distraction safely. Those involved in the trial have said this helps them to concentrate on their driving and forget about the examiner!

More drivers are using sat navs The National Travel Survey 2014 shows that over half of all car drivers in England now use a sat nav. It’s increased from 32.5% in 2009 to 51.9% in 2014.

The national standard for driving cars and light vans sets out what you must be able to do, know and understand to use a sat nav safely.

As more people are using these devices, I want new drivers to be trained to meet the standard to use them safely.

The new manoeuvres The new manoeuvres are used in every day driving and will mean that whilst the turn in the road and reverse around a corner should feature in the training syllabus, they will not be part of the test which will remove the need to spend time in the quieter low risk roads.

Prepared for a lifetime of driving As Chief Driving Examiner, I care passionately that learner drivers are trained to be fully prepared for a lifetime of driving.

I want this new test to encourage the right training so new drivers have the knowledge and skill to drive well, manage risks and distractions and have a greater chance of remaining safe on our roads.

What work has been done so far Starting in April 2015, we’ve worked with the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and run a research trial into the a new test. Two groups of volunteers – trial and control – have been monitored. The trial group has taken the new test, whilst the control group has taken the current test.

Read a more detailed summary of the interim findings of the trial on GOV.UK

Lesley Young Lesley is the Chief Driving Examiner for DVSA. She is responsible for influencing policy development of driving, riding and road safety standards and leads on new driving and road safety initiatives and programmes. She is also accountable for the technical development, accreditation, standard and quality of driving and riding tests.

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Microcar Driver Facing Jail over Licence Misunderstanding Our colleagues from the N332 Facebook page, serving officers form the Guardia Civil, received a question recently which they would like us to expand on.

Several years ago I suffered from heart failure and my driving licence (UK) was withdrawn. I have since made a full recovery and now I am living in Spain permanently. I know there are small cars which can be driven without a licence.

What are the requirements for being allowed to drive these cars? Do I need a medical examination/certificate? Do I need to take any form of Spanish driving test? (I held a full UK licence from Feb 1967 to 2000 and I am 75 years old).

Francisco Morales from the Guardia Civil Trafico in Torrevieja explained that the question revolved around so-called “Microcars”. In Spain we say that you can drive these vehicles without a licence because you don´t need to have a Category B licence, which is for cars. However, to say you don´t need any licence is not true, because you must have a Category AM licence, which is the category you need to be qualified in to ride a moped. Because this type of vehicle uses a very small engine, they are classed as mopeds and can even be driven for teenagers, so long as they have the Category AM licence. It is important to note however that these vehicles must be driven on the hard shoulder where there is one, or as far to the right as possible where a hard shoulder doesn´t exist, and they are not permitted on motorways.

You must also ensure that the vehicle itself is registered and insured. It must have a logbook, ITV (if applicable) and all other requirements for driving on the road as if it were a car.

Obtaining a Category AM licence is relatively easy, all you have to do is contact your nearest driving school and they will give you all the information you need, including the requirements for a medical report. You may also have to provide details as to why your previous licence expired.

As a reminder though, in answer to the point about not needing a licence, you should now see that you do in fact need one. If you drive any vehicle without a licence, you are breaking the law. Similarly, if you don´t have your licence with you when you are driving it can only be assumed that you are driving without a licence until it can be proven otherwise. The reason this is important to highlight is that driving without a licence is covered by the penal code, it is a criminal offence, and as such you will be arrested until you can prove that you are in fact qualified to drive. So, it is a good thing the question was asked, because if you did drive a microcar without a licence, you could well have ended up behind bars.

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What Vehicles Can I Drive?

If you look at the back of your driving license you will see a list of vehicle categories determined by both a letter and a pictogram indicating the type of vehicle referred to. The license also displays dated next to those categories for which you are permitted to drive, in the columns headed 10, 11 and 12, which detail validity from and to dates and any observations respectively.

The vast majority of drivers in Spain have a category “B” licence, which means they are certified as qualified to drive a normal passenger car, but being qualified in that category also allows you to drive some other vehicles.

As a category B licence holder you are permitted to drive specially designed passenger cars, for private use, ranging from a small urban car, an SUV, minivan or sports car.

There is no limitation to the type of vehicle, so long as it is registered as a private car, but there are limitations to the physical characteristics. Namely, a private car must be equal to or less than 3,500 kg in weight and can have a maximum of nine seats, including the driver. The vehicle can only be driven for private and leisure use and not for any commercial gain, whether that be for business or carrying passengers in exchange for cash or goods.

In the case of vans, you can drive any van in which either passengers, goods or both can be transported, whether that vehicle is approved as a private or commercial vehicle, so long as it has a maximum weight equal to or less than 3,500 kg and no more than nine seats including the driver.

For both cars and vans you can also attach a trailer with a category B licence, provided the total combined weight of the vehicle and trailer do not exceed the maximum weight permitted by the technical specifications of the vehicle.

In the case of passenger cars, there are two options allowed under a category B licence. Firstly, a passenger vehicle of up to up to 3,500 kg and a trailer not exceeding 750 kg, representing a maximum combined weight of 4,250 kg.

Or a passenger car (up to 3,500 kg) and a trailer exceeding 750 kg, provided that the combination does not exceed 3,500 kg.

If the trailer exceeds 750 kg and the joint between car and trailer exceeds 3,500 kg but not exceeding 4,250 kg, it is necessary to take two specific practical tests which covers vehicle manoeuvres and dealing with traffic.

If the trailer exceeds 750 kg and the joint between car and trailer also exceeds 4,250 kg, it is necessary to obtain a BE category certification, which enables a passenger car to tow up to 7,000 kg, spread over 3,500 kg maximum weight for the car and 3,500 kg maximum weight for the trailer.

This requires both a theoretical test and two practical tests, one of manoeuvres and the other in traffic.

However, in addition to what we might consider to be the normal vehicles one would expect to be able to drive with a category B licence, but there are others.

You are permitted to drive some two-wheeled vehicles with the category B qualification. Having the “B” category automatically qualifies licence holders for the AM category. That permits drivers to ride small mopeds with engines smaller than 50cc or an electric motor, provided that the vehicle has a maximum limited speed of 45 kilometres per hour and they are only ridden on urban roads.

After holding your category B licence for a period of 3 years, you are automatically upgraded to be allowed to drive vehicles requiring the A1 category, which permits you to drive small motorcycles up to 125 cc and with a maximum power of 11 kW (15 hp). However, you must be aware that this is only the case in Spain. This automatic classification is not effective in other European countries without obtaining the A1 classification qualification separately. That is why, even if your license is issued in Spain, you will not see the validity dates filled in on the back of the licence unless you have undergone specific examinations. In the event of a category B licence holder riding a 125cc motorbike and getting stopped to have your details checked at the roadside, the Guardia Civil traffic officers will refer to the dates of your category B validation to ensure you qualify.

With the category B license you are permitted to drive three-wheeled bikes or tricycles, provided that two of the three wheels are on the same axle. There are no limitations in terms of power, the only condition is that the manufacturer has had the vehicle approved as a tricycle and not as a three-wheeled motorcycle. The difference is that the tricycle requires specific approval and must have certain standard characteristics including a parking brake, minimum track width and lighting specific to this type of vehicle.

If the vehicle does not meet these characteristics then they are subject to the conditions of licencing for motorcycles. A motorcycle with a sidecar for example is not classed as a tricycle and is governed by motorcycle licencing requirements.

All microcars and vehicles which have been approved as quads can be driven with the category B licence. This includes two categories of light quadricycle (with a maximum weight of 350 kg and maximum power of 4kW) and normal quads that can reach up to 550 kg maximum and up to 15 kW (20 hp). The four-wheel buggy type vehicle of more than 15 kW can also be driven, so long as they are classed as passenger cars. You can also drive quads or ATVs, whether of leisure or agricultural type and regardless of engine size or power.

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Test Yourself Here are TEN questions from the current UK Driving Theory Test.

Remember, novice and learner drivers have to study for this. See how many you get right.

By the way, if you want a hint, always consider safety when you answer.

(No cheating but the answers are at the bottom of the next page)

1. It is unacceptable to reverse: A. In an area with many buildings, as well as stationary and moving vehicles B. For longer than the length of one car C. For a longer period of time than you need to D. Into side roads

2. You are driving but ahead of you is a bus at a designated stop. Should you: A. Be prepared to slow down and give way if the bus suddenly moves B. Brake suddenly behind it and wait for it to go C. Accelerate past the bus D. Beep as you pass the bus to notify the driver

3. If turning left to enter a side road, which hazard should you watch out for the most?

A. Congested traffic B. Pedestrians C. Vehicles parked on either side D. If the side road has a one-way system

4. You want to park facing downhill, should you: A. Park with one wheel up the kerb B. Park with two wheels up the kerb C. Turn the steering wheel towards the kerb and put on the handbrake D. Park closest as possible to the car in front

5. Your mobile rings while you are driving

6. What driving style will cause risk to all on

your vehicle. When can you to accept the call?

A. If you are confident that your ability to drive will not be compromised by the distraction B. While travelling on rural roads C. Once you have stopped in a legal place D. While on dual carriages and motorways

the road: A. Cautious B. Responsible C. Competitive D. Defensive

7. You have a collision while you're driving,

8. You're going down a steep hill, to help

what is the first thing to do?

A. Carry on driving B. Stop at the scene C. Call your insurance company D. Call somebody you know to ask advice

control the vehicle you should: A. Accelerate to get down as quickly as possible B. Drive closest to the car in front of you C. Select a high gear and use the brakes firmly D. Select a low gear and use the brakes carefully

9. You are waiting behind a cyclist at traffic

10. Driving on a motorway you miss your exit.

lights, when they change should you: A. Try to move before the cyclist does B. Beep your horn and drive off before they can C. Allow the cyclist time and room to move D. Drive as near to them as possible to ensure you get through

What should you do: A. Perform a U-turn at the central reservation B. Reverse on the hard shoulder back to the exit C. Carry on until you reach the next junction you can exit at D. Reverse in the lane if no cars are coming

By the way, these questions were chosen because the same principles apply in Spain

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Road Signs

Fun Quiz

What do these road signs mean?

1. In 2006, the penalty points were launched in Spain. How many points were each driver given in the beginning?

1.

A. 14.

B. 10.

C. 12.

2. What Spanish actor said: ".... Many people are afraid to fly, not me, my biggest nightmare is to die in a traffic accident. That´s why I've never sat behind the wheel of a car only in the movies ..."

A. Javier Bardem.

B. Fernando Tejero.

C. Mario Casas.

3. In what year was the third brake light introduced in Spain?

A. General warning B. No vehicles C. Speed restrictions end 2.

A. 1986.

B. 1999.

C. 2005.

4. How tall is the crash test dummy representing the average adult?

A. 1.65 meters.

B. 1.79 meters.

C. 1.85 meters.

5. In what year was the “friendly” accident report launched in Spain?

A. 1995.

B. 1986.

C. 2000.

Answers:

A. Minimum speed 70 kmph B. Maximum speed 70 kmph C. Recommended speed limit 70 kmph

Theory Test: 1C, 2A, 3B, 4C, 5C, 6C, 7B, 8D, 9C, 10C Road Signs: 1B, 2C Fun Quiz: 1C, 2A, 3A, 4B, 5B

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“Speed limits dropped in Spa That was the w in” inning ans wer to last month´ s caption competition, th anks to Brian To wers.

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Caption

If you snap an interesting road or traffic based picture, email it to admin@n332.es to be featured or use the hashtag #n332es

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Competition

Finally, think of a funny caption for this photo, send it to admin@n332.es, and we will not only feature the best one next time, you will win a small prize.

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Objects and Obstructions on the Road It is made clear in the new laws that no apparatus, installation or construction, except of a provisional or temporary nature, shall be installed on the roads or lands subject to the area of application of the laws governing traffic, movement of motor vehicles and road safety, which may interrupt the flow of traffic.

Raised pedestrian areas in the thoroughfares, pedestrian crossings, speed bumps and other physical traffic calming elements shall not be considered obstacles in the highway where they fulfil the basic regulations established by the Ministries of the Interior and of Public Works and Transport and where the road safety of road users and in particular of cyclists is guaranteed.

All actions carried out by the emergency services, roadway assistance tow-trucks, or any other type of intervention must be governed by the principles of appropriate and strictly necessary methods.

The actions of the emergency service teams, and those of the roadway assistance tow-trucks and of road repair and development, must endeavour at all times to affect the rest of the traffic as little as possible, occupying only the essential space in the road necessary to carry out their duties.

Use of the Hard Shoulder and Priority Lanes Drivers of animal-drawn vehicles, special vehicles with a maximum authorised weight not exceeding 3,500 kilograms, mopeds, vehicles for persons of reduced mobility or vehicles in pursuit of cyclists, where there does not exist a road or part thereof specially designated, may drive on the hard shoulder, where it is passable and adequate for the vehicle. Otherwise, they must use the required part of the road.

Drivers of vehicles whose maximum weight does not exceed 3,500 kilograms which, for emergency reasons, are travelling at abnormally reduced speed and therefore seriously interrupting the flow of traffic, may also drive on the hard shoulder or, in the circumstances referred to in this section, the required part of the road.

Vehicles specified in the previous section are prohibited from driving parallel.

The driver of any of the vehicles specified may not overtake another if the duration of the parallel positioning exceeds 15 seconds or the distance covered in the said manner exceeds 200 metres.

With respect to vintage vehicles, specific regulation exists.

Infractions with regard to section 3 will be considered serious.

Authorised vehicles dealing with emergency situations may also use the hard shoulder for access to carry out their emergency duties, but always where: a) The vehicles on the thoroughfare are being detained. b) The corresponding signals V-1 or V-2 are being utilized. c) They are not driving at speeds exceeding 40kph, excepting priority vehicles attending emergencies.

Vehicles of the police and Guardia Civil, fire fighters, civil defence, rescue, and emergency health services, as well as maintenance teams involved in the installation and infrastructure of the highway and the vehicles denoted by the signals V-2 and V-24 which attend to carry out an auxiliary service on the road, may also utilize reserved lanes.

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In preparation of the launch of our next eBook in December, we have decided to serialise the last one in the pages of this publication. In each edition we will work our way through the entire eBook so that you can collect your own full copy to use in the future.

Driving in Opposing Lanes Where advisable for environmental, safety or traffic flow reasons, the competent authority may prioritise different traffic direction, total or partial prohibition of access to parts of the road, either general or for specified vehicles or road users, the closing of specified roads, the obligatory following of fixed routes or the use of hard shoulders or lanes contrary to the direction normally provided.

In the event of having to drive on a lane which would normally be reserved for traffic flowing in the direction you are travelling, such as may be the case in road works, the drivers of vehicles which are moving along lanes assigned to the normal direction of traffic, adjacent to that authorised for movement in the opposite direction, may not move out to the side, invading the lane authorised for travelling in the opposite direction; they will have as minimum short range or dipped beam headlights switched on both day and night.

If there is only one lane available in the direction which they are travelling, they will maintain a maximum speed of 80kph and a minimum of 60kph, or less if this should be established or specifically signposted, and if there is more than one lane available in the direction which they are travelling, they will maintain the speeds established in Articles 48, 49 & 50. Said road users and drivers will take special care to avoid altering permanent or mobile signalling features.

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Maximum Speeds There has been a lot of speculation over an increase in the maximum permitted speed on motorways to 130 kilometres per hour. This is included in the new laws, but not on all motorways. The DGT has said that there are just 1,500 kilometres of motorways which are eligible for the increase, the equivalent of around 1% of the road network.

The increased limit will only apply on roads with a low incident rate, with a good layout and in optimal weather conditions, and so variable, matrix signs will be used in some sections to indicate the limit increase. In the vast majority of cases, the limit will still be 120 kilometres per hour, unless the road signs say otherwise.

At the same time, we must also be aware that the maximum speed limit on other roads will actually decrease, with the standard maximum speed limit on conventional roads also reducing, with the limit depending on the characteristics of the actual road.

The maximum speeds, which may not be exceeded, except under the hypothetical provisions of other articles and rules, are the following: On roads without pavements the maximum speed limit will be 30kph.

On motorways and dual carriageways with a maximum speed limit of 120kph, the speed limit may be increased by means of adjustable message boards up to a maximum of 130kph for cars, motorbikes and adapted three-wheeled vehicles.

This increased speed limit will be authorized and managed exclusively by the autonomous body of the National Traffic Headquarters or, where appropriate, by the autonomous authority competent in the management of traffic, as a temporary measure and on sections where reliable safety indicators, good conditions on the road and pavement, and optimal meteorological and environmental conditions exist.

Those vehicles or groups of vehicles within a system of special transport shall be governed by the speed limits provided for in appendix III of those rules.

Those vehicles in which the driver is on foot will not surpass the speed of human walking pace, and animals which are pulling a vehicle, that of a trot.

For vehicles carrying dangerous goods, the maximum fixed speed will be reduced by 10kph depending on which type of vehicle and road is being driven.

Bicycles and mopeds may not be driven at speeds exceeding 45kph.

It is permitted to drive at speeds below the minimum in the case of bicycles, animal-drawn vehicles, special vehicles and vehicles in special transport systems or where the circumstances of the traffic, the vehicle or the road impede maintaining a speed above the minimum without risk to traffic, as well as in cases of protection or accompaniment of other vehicles, where the speed of the accompanied vehicle is adapted.

In such cases the accompanying vehicles must carry the markings V-21 or V-22, as appropriate.

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Maximum Speeds DĂdžŝŵƵŵ ƐƉĞĞĚƐ ŽŶ ƵƌďĂŶ ƌŽƵƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐƌŽƐƐŝŶŐƐ͘ hŶůĞƐƐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƐŝŐŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŝŐŶĂůƐ ƐĂLJƐ ŽƚŚĞƌǁŝƐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵĂdžŝŵƵŵ ƐƉĞĞĚƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŵĂLJ ŶŽƚ ďĞ ĞdžĐĞĞĚĞĚ ďLJ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞƐ ŽŶ ƵƌďĂŶ ƌŽƵƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐƌŽƐƐŝŶŐƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ͗

ĂƌƐ͕ ŵŽƚŽƌďŝŬĞƐ͕ ƚŚƌĞĞͲǁŚĞĞůĞĚ ǀĞͲ ŚŝĐůĞƐ͕ ƋƵĂĚ ďŝŬĞƐ͕ ĐĂƌĂǀĂŶƐ ĂŶĚ ŵŽͲ ƚŽƌ ŚŽŵĞƐ ŽĨ ŵĂdžŝͲ ŵƵŵ ĂƵƚŚŽƌŝnjĞĚ ǁĞŝŐŚƚ ƵƉ ƚŽ ϯ͕ϱϬϬŬŐ sĞŚŝĐůĞƐ ŽĨ ŵĂdžŝͲ ŵƵŵ ĂƵƚŚŽƌŝnjĞĚ ǁĞŝŐŚƚ ŽǀĞƌ ϯ͕ϱϬϬŬŐ͕ ĞdžĐĞƉƚ ůŽƌƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĂƌƟĐƵͲ

DŽƚŽƌǁĂLJƐ ĂŶĚ ƵĂů ĂƌƌŝĂŐĞǁĂLJƐ

ŽŶǀĞŶƟŽŶĂů ZŽĂĚƐ

ŽŶǀĞŶƟŽŶĂů ZŽĂĚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĚƌŝǀŝŶŐ ĂƌĞĂ ůĞƐƐ ƚŚĂŶ ϲ͘ϱ ŵĞƚƌĞƐ ŝŶ ǁŝĚƚŚ ĂŶĚ t/d, ĐĞŶƚƌĂů ůŝŶĞ ďĞͲ ƚǁĞĞŶ ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶĂů ůĂŶĞƐ ;ΎͿ

ŽŶǀĞŶƟŽŶĂů ZŽĂĚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĚƌŝǀŝŶŐ ĂƌĞĂ ůĞƐƐ ƚŚĂŶ ϲ͘ϱ ŵĞƚƌĞƐ ŝŶ ǁŝĚƚŚ ĂŶĚ ǁŝƚŚͲ ŽƵƚ ĐĞŶƚƌĂů ůŝŶĞ ďĞͲ ƚǁĞĞŶ ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶĂů ůĂŶĞƐ ;ΎͿ

>ŽƌƌŝĞƐ͕ ĂƌƟĐƵůĂƚĞĚ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞƐ͕ ƚƌĂĐƚŽƌƐ͕ ǀĂŶƐ͕ ĐĂƌƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚƌĂŝůĞƌƐ ƵƐĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĨŽŽƚ ƉĂƐƐĞŶŐĞƌƐ Žƌ ǁŝƚŚͲ ŽƵƚ ƐĞĂƚ ďĞůƚƐ ŝŶͲ ƐƚĂůůĞĚ

For the purpose of this article, lanes reserved for particular vehicles or specific manoeuvres, including parking, not considered as traffic lanes. are At especially dangerous crossings, the speed limit may be reduced by agreement between the municipal authority and the road title holder. On urban routes, the competent body of the municipal corporation may decide to reduce the fixed speed limits.

By the same token, the speed limit may be increased by means of suitable signage on the crossings and on the motorways and dual carriageways within the town, as well as in tunnels and on sections where pedestrians and cyclists may not pass, albeit in no case may the general speed limits established in these rules be exceeded.

Without specific notices to the contrary, the maximum speeds on motorways and dual carriageways within towns will be 80kph.

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Other Rules Sporting Competitions, Touring Cycle Races and Other Events Sporting competition events whose object is to compete over space or time and/or road or land handling skill, subject to the legislation on traffic, movement of vehicles and road safety, as well as the performing of touring cycle runs and other events, requires advance authorisation which will be issued in accordance with the rules which regulate such activities.

It is prohibited to set up speed competitions on public roads, or those used by the public, except where they have been marked out in an exceptional manner by the competent authority.

Infractions of the standards of this rule will be considered very serious, without prejudice to the methods adopted by agents in charge of traffic control to suspend or interrupt unauthorised sporting competitions, races or events.

Advanced Positioning Drivers of two-wheeled motorbikes and mopeds, as well as bicycles, may advance to position themselves at the head of the line of stopped traffic, driving with caution between the rest of the stopped vehicles at the intersection.

If there are priority waiting zones reserved for such vehicles, their drivers may approach them with the same care.

In all other cases the general rules of priority among vehicles will apply.

Priority Vehicles The drivers of priority vehicles may, in exceptional cases, where driving on the motorway or dual carriageway on emergency service and where they do not compromise the safety of any other road user, make a half turn, reverse or drive on the opposite side of the road, always where they use the hard shoulder, the central reservation, or crossings to do so.

The agents of the authority responsible for the control, regulation and inspection of traffic may use or place their vehicles in that part of the road deemed necessary when assisting road users or where required to meet the needs of the service or the traffic flow. They will likewise determine in each specific case where emergency service or other special service vehicles must be situated.

Other road users and drivers must respect priority vehicles and snowploughs. As soon as they notice the special signs announcing the proximity of a priority vehicle or snowplough, all other road users will adopt the appropriate measures, depending on the prevailing circumstances and location, to allow them to pass, normally moving to the right or stopping if necessary.

Where a vehicle belonging to the agents of the responsible traffic authority, which positions itself behind any other vehicle and activates a red light-emitting device facing forward and rotating or flashing, the driver of the vehicle must stop with due regard to safety on the right side of the road, in front of the police vehicle, in a spot that does not pose a major risk or disturbance to other road users, and remain inside the vehicle. At all times the driver must comply with the instructions given by the agent by means of a megaphone or by any other method which may be clearly received.

Where the Security Forces and Corps, in the scope of their duties, establish citizen security checkpoints on the public highway, they may regulate traffic exclusively in the absence of agents in charge of traffic control and regulation.

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