N332 Roadwatch Issue 04

ROADWATCH Issue 04

www.n332.es 1,50€

SNOW PATROL Prepare for Snow -Check your Lights - Licence Points - Vision Problems - Blue Lights - Priority Vehicles - Tablet Computers Electric Cars - Traffic and Motoring News - The Gallery & MORE!

Welcome to N332 RoadWatch

We have quite a lot to talk about in this, the latest issue of N332 RoadWatch, not least because of the dramatic seasonal change we call winter.

Snow has already started to fall in parts of Spain, cutting off many villages and towns, albeit only for a short time, it is set to get worse as the winter months move on. We have a little article about snow chains to advise you when you need to use them and why you should carry them.

Okay, for many who live in coastal zones, snow may not pose too much of a problem, but those dark nights certainly will. As the clocks went back recently we were plunged into darkness, and so it is a good time to check out lights and make sure they all work. We should do that on a regular basis of course, but especially now.

Talking of lights, we answer a question posed by a number of our followers and readers, the question about the legality of Daytime Running Lights on motorbikes. Not only do we answer the questions, we also give you the document issued by the authorities which explains to law enforcement officers the reasons, just in case you need it.

We also look again at some other constant questions we are asked, such as transferring a vehicle following a death, the eITV certificate which replaced the paper version, and licence points and how to lose them.

We also have a feature on eyesight, one of the hidden dangers on the roads, as deterioration is often slow and gradual, vision problems are not always noticed.

The Guardia Civil have some new equipment again.

For routine patrols they now have some electric vehicles, and in the traffic department the trusty PDA is

being replaced by tablet computers.

We look at both of those in this issue.

We have also launched our newest section on the website, N332 Services, where we have sought out a number of trusted companies who will provide goods and services to you, not only with a substantial discount, but also with the assurance that we vouch for quality of their service.

One of those service providers in me, I am Mark Nolan by the way, and aside from my voluntary work on the N332 Road Safety Project, I am also a publicist who creates websites and other marketing materials for companies and individuals. I will tell you more about my services in another edition, because this time we are showcasing an alarm provider, Securitas Direct, who offer one of the most comprehensive systems, covering the whole of Spain, that can monitor your home or business whether you are in the country or if you have gone back to your homeland for the winter.

Finally, I must also mention that one of our supporters, IBEX Insurance, are celebrating a birthday. Their Quesada office are having a party this week. I hope to get along myself, and would really look forward to meeting with you there.

Until next time, 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

Lebanese Traffic Officers Train in Spain

Members of the Guardia Civil have been sharing their knowledge of road safety and traffic policing to a group of Lebanese gendarmes and local police who attended a special course at the Miguel de Cervantes base, from where the Spanish troops are deployed on UN missions.

The program is called “Traffic Safety Joint Training� and has been presented to the local police officers based in Marjayoun and Ebel Saki, and members of the Lebanese gendarmerie.

The course lasted for five days in which the Spanish agents have shown how local forces how to conduct road blocks, traffic checks and alcohol or drug screening, including, for example, how to detect if a driver displays symptoms of having ingested alcohol or any kind of narcotic substance.

Other practical exercises included incident response and the techniques applied in Spain when collecting evidence and fingerprints, visual inspection and preserving and recording the scene.

4

Snapchat Crash

“Don't Drink and Drive! Don't #snapchat photos to your boyfriend and drive! See story on FB”, that is the warning Tweeted by the Bryan Police Department in Texas, after a university student crashed her vehicle into a police patrol car whilst taking a saucy selfie for her boyfriend.

Luckily, nobody was injured in the incident, although the officer who attended reported that the driver had an "unclasped brassiere" and an open bottle of wine in her car.

In the incident report, the officer stated, “I asked her why she was not dressed while driving and she stated she was taking a Snapchat photo to send to her boyfriend while she was at a red light.”

The driver was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

NEWS CATCH UP N332 Supported by RTN

N332 has signed a new media collaboration agreement, this time with the English language newspaper, the RTN. Each week, you will be able to read an article in the RTN which has been specially prepared for them, and which has not been published anywhere else.

We believe that it is important for us to nurture relationships like this, as we value other means of spreading this vital, potentially life-saving advice through as many different mediums as possible.

With our relationship with the RTN you will now be able to enjoy some of our articles in print, as well as those published on the n332.es website.

Many sure you pick up the RTN newspaper every Friday for the latest article in “The number one free weekly newspaper on the Costa Blanca, Costa Cálida with all the local news, sport and major stories and events”, and visit their website for up to date news at www.roundtownnews.com.

NEWS CATCH UP Reflections

The Mayor of Bogota, Columbia, if offering food for thought, by making a statement encouraging the use of public transport, in the hope of urging motorists to reconsider before taking to the road in their own vehicles.

The campaign phrase is simply, “A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars, it´s where the rich ride public transportation”.

Product Recall – TREK Bicycles Bicycle manufacturer TREK has issued a recall notice for some of its products after identifying a potential risk with the forks which the company believes could lead to an injury incident.

Specifically, the company reports that a poorly assembled fork can unexpectedly turn whilst the bike is being ridden, thus causing a crash.

The bicycle models are: Farley 2014 Cuadro Farley 2014 Farley 6 2015 Cuadro Farley 6 2015 If you have one of these bicycles you should contact the manufacturer or the company themselves, using the information on your warranty documents.

6

Police Powers

The Albanian police have renewed some of their aging fleet recently, tapping into the energy saving characteristics of electric cars, with just one minor oversight for the officers who use them, there´s nowhere for their electric vehicle to recharge.

A number of electric Volkswagen Golfs have been added to the fleet, capable of traveling a distance of around 100 kilometres for the cost of a cup of coffee, but the only charging station they have has been fitted to the police station, and so the officers are only able to be out for a limited amount of time before returning back to base to plug in.

The vehicles themselves can do between 130 and 190 kilometres on a single charge, depending on the style of driving, but that means that the officers can only safely patrol for around 50 kilometres before heading back.

It is not likely that the problem will be resolved anytime soon as the infrastructure needed to install remote chargers is far from being adequate, and so, for now, the officers have to watch the clock or revert to their polluting vehicles for longer patrols.

Closer to you!

Please come and join us on

18th November at our Quesada office from 3pm onwards for drinks and nibbles to celebrate our 6th Anniversary!

We’ll have a raffle to raise money for our local charities.

Quesada Andrea, Carol & Michele

T: +34 966 719 951 quesada@ibexinsure.com Calle Turismo 4-A, Urb. Ciudad Quesada, Rojales, 03170 Alicante

www.ibexinsure.com/quesada Ibex Insurance Services Ltd 2016. Ibex Insurance Services Ltd, 68 Irish Town, Gibraltar. Registered no. 77247. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission FSC 006 43B

Motor

Home

Marine

Travel

Medical

Holiday Apartment

Business

Pet

Community

NEWS CATCH UP

N332 Visits TRACS in Torrevieja

The N332 Road Safety Project Roadshow made another stop in Torrevieja recently, giving a presentation to the popular TRACS social and networking group.

Around 100 people were invited to attend the presentation, which was held in the Nautica Bar I Torrevieja´s harbour, and despite the damp day, the room was packed out by attendees.

The presentation was led by Mark Nolan from the N332 website, with Francisco Morales from the

Guardia Civil making a virtual appearance by video, on account of him having to patrol the roads on that day, although he did manage to pop in during a quieter time on patrol.

The presentation took the group through some of the typical unanswered questions, such as how to spot an unmarked traffic car to avoid becoming a victim of roadside robberies, what to do in the event of being stopped by the police, licensing, fines, equipment, and more, as well as everybody´s favourite subject, driving on roundabouts.

The presentation was further supported by experts from Ibex insurance, who were on hand to answer questions relating to insurance matters, and other experts from one of the biggest alarm providers in Spain, Seguritas Direct, who gave a brief talk about the benefits of their system in the home.

More presentations are now being arranged into the New Year. If you are part of a group in the Torrevieja, Orihuela, Elche and surrounding areas who can get around 50 to 60 people together, and you would be interested in receiving a talk from a member of the N332 group and their supporting businesses, you can contact us by emailing news@n332.es.

Check Your Lights As the days get shorter and the nights are getting longer, it´s time to check that all of the lights on our vehicles are fully working.

Until quite recently, all vehicles had to carry a spare set of bulbs, this is no longer the case. The Spanish government recognised that changing a bulb is no longer a simple task, and in many cases can only be done by qualified mechanics, and so carrying a spare set was pointless, if the ability to change the bulbs had been removed.

However, it is still important to check all of the lights on a regular basis, even those not used too often, such as fog lights.

It is better to have an assistant to help you do this so that one of you can be in the car operating the switches, the other on the outside monitoring the results.

Remember, check every light, headlights (including full beam), indicators and hazard lights (front and back), rear lights and brake lights, reversing and fog lights, and the lights that illuminate the number plate at the rear.

If your vehicle is a modern one you might also have Daytime Running Lights installed.

Although these lights are often more reliable than traditional lights, on account of them being LED´s, they should also be checked on a regular basis.

If you don´t have anybody to help you can still carry out the checks by using reflective surfaces such as shop windows or other parked vehicles. Make sure you do this in an isolated location though as you don´t want to confuse other motorists.

If any of the lights have failed make sure you get them replaced immediately as it is an offence to drive with defective lights. If you need help, contact our friends at Autos Direct who will be happy to carry out any work needed for you.

9

Travel insurance – Why have one?

You might be travelling to some exotic place or planning to participate in scuba diving, climbing, surfing or wake boarding. Having travel insurance in place is not only for these activities and it might seem to be an unnecessary additional expense on the cost of a trip but even if you are just flying to your home country to visit family for a short weekend or for Christmas; there are lots of things that could happen.

•

You may need to cancel or curtail your trip due to illness or injury of you or a loved one.

• You may need emergency medical treatment whilst overseas and that may result in the need for medical repatriation.

• If you were injured or worse still were to die as a result of an accident there would significant legal costs and expenses.

•

Your outward or return journey could be seriously delayed.

• You may need to abandon your trip if you were involved in an accident en route to your departure point.

•

You may have an accident during your trip.

•

Your baggage could be lost or delayed.

•

Cash or important documents, including your passport, could be lost or stolen.

• You may cause an accident or an injury to someone and be faced with heavy legal expenses and legal liability.

Anything could happen, thus having travel insurance in place will give you peace of mind.

It can pay your medical emergency treatment, hospital and other expenses in case of accidental injury or illness. It also might pay for unused travel and accommodation in case you need to cancel or curtail your trip, pay additional accommodation necessary to reach your booked destination when you have missed your departure, repatriation to your country of residence and much more.

All depends on the level of cover, duration of the trip, area of cover and the insurance company.

A few things to bear in mind when deciding what insurance to choose are whether you are travelling inside or outside the European Union and especially if you are travelling to the US, as medical expenses could result in you paying a very high hospital bill.

If you are travelling with a friend and something happens to your travelling partner you might need to cancel your trip.

You might have some relative that might be unwell and force you to cancel your trip.

For all these reasons, you might want to stop for a moment to consider the very real financial risks of travelling without cover in place and you will know that it is extremely important to invest in good quality travel insurance.

Leave it to the experts and contact one of our local offices in Quesada, Orihuela Costa, Mazarron, Mojacar, Albox, Fuengirola, Estepona, Mallorca or Tenerife. As your local insurance broker Ibex can find the policy to meet your needs.

10

Closer to you!

Travel insurance

Planning your Christmas holidays?

Make sure you have the cover you need Get organised for 2017 and have all your insurances in one place. As your local broker we are a one stop shop for your car, home, medical, commercial, pet and more insurances.

Call into our local offices or call us on:

Orihuela Costa

Quesada

Jaimy, Tracy, Jamie & Ainhara

Andrea, Carol & Michele

T: +34 966 761 575

T: +34 966 719 951

orihuela@ibexinsure.com www.ibexinsure.com/orihuela

quesada@ibexinsure.com www.ibexinsure.com/quesada

Ibex Insurance Services Ltd 2016. Ibex Insurance Services Ltd, 68 Irish Town, Gibraltar. Registered no. 77247. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission FSC 006 43B

Motor

Home

Marine

Travel

Medical

Holiday Apartment

Business

Pet

Community

New Citroën C3 Connected Cam For those who still wondering if dash cams are legal or not, the all-new Citroën C3 has a HD camera built in so you can shoot your own road movies.

The all new Citroën C3 has all the usual modcons you'd expect from a brand spanking new supermini, but it's also packing one feature that your current motor doesn't have - a camera built directly into your rear view mirror. Yes people, the selfie has come to modern hatchback. Prepare to become the coolest dad on the school run... well, maybe...

In a hope to add a bit of a technological twist to the dashboard features of the Citroën C3, the French car

12

manufacturer really has included a special camera, the ConnectedCAM Citroën is a fully integrated connected camera (with a wide 120 degree angle, Full HD video and 2 million pixels) with GPS and a 16GB internal memory to boot.

Other than taking selfies of you and your family on the way to a theme park or the zoo, the ConnectedCAM can also be used in the event of an emergency. The smart video system switches on automatically if a vehicle collision occurs and runs for up to one and a half minutes. You can even use it locate your car and store its position using the ConnectedCAM Citroën app to ensure they can find it in unfamiliar or busy places.

Emergency Blue Lights As Spain finally settles down with a new government, many of the laws left outstanding from the previous administrative term are now being reintroduced to parliament, including changes to traffic laws.

One such proposal is having blue lights on all priority vehicles, including those driven by the fire service and medics. Currently, these vehicles display orange flashing lights when attending an emergency and it is only the security services, the police and Guardia Civil, who use blue lights.

The proposal was first made some years ago, with the intention of ensuring consistency across all European nations. Now, the Ciudadanos parliamentary group have formally put the notion forward once again.

Of course as in any change in the law the process now begins whereas the matter will be debated before entering into Spanish legislation, but with a keenness to fall in line with Europe, many people

think it just a matter of time before ambulances and fire tenders use blue lights.

Europe is currently trying to ensure consistency in the appearance of emergency vehicles, with blue, red and green being the corresponding colours of the police, fire and ambulance service respectively, with the aim of ensuring that a police car looks the same irrespective of the country it is patrolling, for example.

However, given the fact that the emergency services are fragmented across the country, standardising the entire image of the emergency service fleet might be nothing more than a hope at this stage, for now we need to look out for and respond to the lights of emergency service vehicles, keeping in mind that even a tow truck responding to an emergency situation is classed as a priority vehicle, and as such other vehicles must give way to allow them to pass.

See further inside this issue for more details.

13

FIVE SIMPLE MAINTENANCE TA Proper maintenance of your vehicle is crucial to its safe and economic operation. Modern cars have become far more complex than their ancestors, and although it is vital that major work is carried out by a qualified engineer, there are some simple tasks that we should all know how to do and check them on a regular basis.

1. Check the engine oil level.

Oil is what keeps the mechanical parts of the engine lubricated in order for them to work properly. It is highly recommended to periodically check the oil levels, especially if your car is old or used frequently. Often, the regular maintenance schedule is not enough as even the smallest leak can cause a significant loss of oil over time.

Although the interval in which we check varies, it should always be done before a long journey, at least once per month, of if you see any signs of oil deposits on the road or your driveway. The oil levels should be checked when the engine is cold and the vehicle parked on a level place.

In order to check the levels you will need to open the bonnet and find the dipstick. The dipstick is one of the engine parts which is normally clearly visible and often labelled.

It may look like a circle or ring, or have a small handle for you to grip. To check the levels, pull the dipstick from its holder, carefully, then wipe the end. Reinsert it, again carefully, and take it out again. You should now see a small deposit of oil on the end of the dipstick which should fall somewhere between markers indicating the maximum and minimum levels in the engine.

If no oil is shown, try again. If this is still the case, or if the oil level looks too high, you may wish to seek assistance from a mechanic straight away.

2. Check tyre pressure.

Maintaining proper tyre pressure is crucial for maintaining the maximum life and performance of the tyres, as well as avoiding serious problems that can jeopardise the safety and security of the vehicle, such as the loss of stability, an increase in braking distance, and even a high risk blowout.

Tyre pressure can be checked at most fuel filling stations, often for free, where they have calibrated equipment that can tell you the exact pressure in each of the tyres.

Checking the pressure of tyres should be done when the tyres are cold and have not run far, and when the vehicle is unloaded.

You should check the vehicle´s manual for the correct tyre pressure, although more modern cars have a plate fitted to the vehicle which tells you this.

3. Changing a wheel.

A recent survey revealed that only 25% of drivers know how to change a wheel.

14

ASKS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW All drivers should know how to change a wheel in the event of a puncture or other damage. Although your breakdown service may cover this, knowing you to change the wheel can significantly reduce waiting times in the event of failure.

Not all cars carry fully specific road-ready spare wheels. Some have modern kits to temporarily repair damage, others have emergency wheels which can be used at a reduced speed until your vehicle reaches a place of safety where the proper tyre can be repaired.

It is important to know what type of spare your vehicle carries, and how to use the tools which accompany it. Check your vehicle´s manual for specific details.

You can practice changing your wheel away from traffic, perhaps on a driveway or private road.

Remember, if you do need to change your wheel on a live road, make sure you are safe, protected by your emergency triangles and high visibility clothing, never put yourself in a live lane, and if there is any doubt or risk, always summon assistance.

4. Change the wiper blades.

It is easy to identify wiper blades that are in poor condition as they leave an irregular pattern on the window when wiping water away, or they might squeak when in use.

You should never let your wiper blades get to this state as they can cause damage to the windscreen.

Check them on a regular basis, using your windscreen washing system.

Different vehicles require different blades and they are not always changed in the same way. Generally, the blades connect to the arm via a simple clip, although you might want to check with your vehicle´s manual. Most large supermarkets now stock wiper blades and provide a guide to which ones fit each vehicle, including, often, their own brands which can be cheaper than main makes, although you may then want to check them more regularly.

5. Changing a light bulb.

We have dealt with lights in a different article, and although it is no longer mandatory to carry spare bulbs as changing them can be almost impossible, checking them is vital.

It is however important that checking our lights is part of our standard and regular checking process, which is why we have also included them in this section.

Remember, although some of these tasks might seem a little complex, you can leave the hard parts to the experts, but it is always good to know the basics to ensure safe motoring whatever the vehicle we choose to drive.

15

Licence Points Unlike the UK, where penalty points are added to the licence, in Spain, drivers who have been qualified for more than 3 years begin with a credit of 12 points. New and novice drivers with less than 3 years of experience start with 8 points. If no infractions are committed during the next 3 then 2 points are automatically added to that credit, resulting in safer drivers obtaining 15 points.

Drivers who have lost points can recover their entire initial credit of 12 points after a period of 2 years without being punished for offences involving the loss of points (unless the loss of points was due to a very serious infringement, in which case the deadline to recover all points will be 3 years).

If you want to check the balance of your driving licence points, you can do so via the internet.

Visit the DGT website, www.dgt.es, and click the section entitled, “¿Cuantos puntos tengo?”, followed by “Consulta Tus Puntos”.

You will be given a variety of links which will lead you to be able to access the information securely via your digital signature.

16

How to Lose Points The DGT has issued a list of some the top reasons why drivers in Spain lose points from their licence, categorised by their severity.

LOSE SIX POINTS 1. Driving with a rate of alcohol greater than 0.50 mg per litre of exhaled air. If professional and novice drivers (qualified less than two years), the limit is reduced to 0.30 mg / l.

2. Driving under the influence of drugs, psychotropics, stimulants and other substances with similar effects.

3. Refusing to submit to a breathalyser test or drug screening.

4. Driving in a reckless manner (endangering other drivers), driving in the opposite direction or engaging in unauthorised races.

5. Exceeding the speed limit by more than 50% the maximum authorised limit and by at least 30 kilometres per hour.

6. Using mechanisms or instruments that inhibit traffic monitoring or radar detection systems.

7. Exceeding driving time by more than 50% or reducing rest times by more than 50% of those laid down in legislation on land transport.

LOSE FOUR POINTS 8. Driving with a blood alcohol level between 0.25 and 0.50 mg per litre of exhaled air. For professional and novice drivers, the limit is between 0.15 and 0.30 mg / l.

9. Throwing objects on or nearby the road that could cause fires, accidents or impede other road users.

10. Driving on motorways or dual carriageways with vehicles that are expressly prohibited.

11. Driving a vehicle with an occupation that increases by 50% or more the number of authorised seats.

12. Driving a vehicle without a licence for that vehicle.

13. Driving with a suspended licence or having been banned for driving that vehicle.

14. Driving negligently and putting other road users at risk.

15. Failure to comply with the legal provisions on the priorities and the obligation to stop at the stop sign and traffic lights.

16. Failure to comply with the legal provisions on overtaking, endangering or hindering those moving in the opposite direction and overtaking in places or circumstances of reduced visibility.

17. Overtaking, endangering or hindering cyclists.

18. Perform a reversing manoeuvre on motorways.

19. Increasing speed or performing manoeuvres that prevent or hinder overtaking by the driver of another vehicle.

20. Failure to observe the signs and signals of agents that regulate movement.

21. Failure to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.

LOSE THREE POINTS 22. Making the change of direction in breach of the provisions in road safety laws.

23. Driving using a mobile phone, programming the browser, using headphones or other devices that reduce the attention.

24. Not using seat belts, child restraints, helmets and other protective equipment.

17

Vision and Driving How Vision Impairment Effects Driving

Vision impairment can be one of the most dangerous conditions for drivers, largely because vision tends to degrade at such a gradual rate, it is often unnoticed by the sufferer.

Regular check-ups by your optician are a must, whatever your age, although it perhaps becomes more of an issue in the advanced years.

In Spain, it is estimated that around one million drivers have a problem with their vision which has not yet been identified and treated, that means that there are around a million drivers who are putting the lives of everybody who uses the roads at risk, without even realising the danger they are putting themselves and others in.

Here, we look at some of the most common unnoticed conditions and show you a comparison with a picture taken on a clear day, as if the driver has full vision. This should show you how these common conditions do have an effect, even if we don´t realise.

Normal Vision This is a clear image of what a driver with full vision should see.

18

Short-sighted The person in this image can see things clearer when they are closer to them, limiting the visibility ahead.

Long-sighted This person can see object clearly in the distance, but close objects appear blurred.

Cataracts The vision appears hazy, sometimes causing total blindness.

Scotoma A scotoma is an area of partial alteration in the field of vision consisting of a partially diminished, causing blind-spots.

Glaucoma In this case, the field is progressively reduced. It's like seeing through a tube that is becoming increasingly smaller. Sometimes, visual acuity remains intact until advanced stages of glaucoma.

Diplopia Commonly known as double vision, is the simultaneous perception of two images of a single object.

Alcohol Although not a “condition� as such, alcohol seriously hampers visibility and causes unpredicted results.

19

N332 Launches a New Services Section As part of our development strategy, we have been working with some selected companies to try to provide our friends and followers with some great deals and offers in order to reward your loyalty to us.

As a result of that, we are now launching N332 Services, a special section on the website where these companies can advertise their products and offer you special rates.

Over the next few weeks we will be expanding the network to provide more services, but right now we have great deals on burglar alarm systems, tow truck services, website design, document renewals and more.

You will be able to visit our directory as it grows by visiting the services page, which is available on the menu at the top of the n332.es website, or by just typing n332.es/services.

There is also a telephone you can call to leave your details with us to arrange for one of our trusted partners to contact you and explain their own services on offer. That number is also on the services page.

Meanwhile, we will offer s showcase to one of those services here, so you can read more about the products and services on offer.

Remember, please mention N332 when you use any of the services or companies offered on the site or the pages of this magazine, as it helps to spread the valuable message of the community we are operating in, all of us, working together for safer roads.

Securitas Direct are one of the largest companies in Spain who offer independent and monitored alarm systems.

N332.es have teamed up with Seguritas Direct and are able to offer substantial discounts and special offers for our followers. This could be something like a 200â‚Ź discount for example, or an extra piece of equipment for FREE. Please watch the video below and if you see for yourself some of the benefits of this system, then, if you are interested in having the latest security technology at home or business call N332 Services on 694 465 821 where we will speak to you in English and arrange for the Seguritas Direct team to carry out a free security study of your property. They will then assess your needs and give you advice about what to install at home, all without a purchase obligation. However, if you decide to hire their services, you will get a FREE anti-inhibition system valued at 199â‚Ź on the sport, just for being an N332 follower.

You can read more about Seguritas Direct, and watch a video on the website, n332.es, and you can contact us by sending an email to services@n332.es, or call us on 694 465 821.

For your home, the VeriSure alarm offers the best protection thanks to the latest technology, providing safe cover around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the support of more than 4,000 security professionals.

Last year alone, the systems help to prevent 22,000 robbery attempts.

Their range of products can provide as much cover as you and your home might need, which can be monitored from anywhere in the world.

One of the key elements of their systems is a central control unit in your home which monitors whilst you are away, and when you are inside, with different settings dependent on whether you are in your home. At the touch of a button you can be in contact with the control centre who can summon the emergency services to attend to you within moments.

Any warning or emergency situation will be handled by one of their security experts in an average time of 29 seconds. The control centre is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and will summon the most appropriate emergency service depending on the occasion, be it police, fire or ambulance, or one of their own security patrols, of which there are 4 which operate in our local area around the clock.

Watching your home you could have a camera unit which can monitor movement, has a flash for night time, can be viewed by a secure connection on your mobile phone, and works from batteries so will continue to monitor your home in the event of a power cut.

Every home is different and, therefore, requires specific measures to ensure protection against theft and other threats. Agents from Securitas Direct are happy to visit your home and provide you with a comprehensive assessment, explaining where they feel your vulnerabilities are, and providing solutions for those issues.

There is little delay in having the system either, whatever you choose from their range, your system can be installed within 24 hours, without the need for laying cables or other disturbance.

If you are interested in a no obligation visit, email or call us, details below, and we will arrange for one of their teams to visit you and explain the systems, in English, so you too can be protected from threats in your home.

Priority Vehicles with specific authority from the Provincial Traffic Department, in accordance to rules governing this type of vehicle.

In Article 68, the correct procedures for drivers of emergency vehicles is detailed, including the provisions for not endangering other road users, and where vehicles responding to emergencies can, under certain circumstances, also have exemptions to other rules and regulations, including turning around on motorways and driving in the opposite direction to that permitted, and use their vehicles to block the road to assist others in dealing with emergencies.

Blue or orange flashing lights, sirens, bells, the very thought conjures up the image of an emergency vehicle, attending or dealing with a life threatening or emergency situation, but what about a car intermittently sounding its horn and waving a handkerchief? That too is a priority vehicle in certain circumstances, and other vehicles must move out of the way, if it´s safe to do so. Let us explain.

The rules relating to emergency vehicles are detailed in the text “Reglamento general de circulación sobre vehículos prioritarios”, or the general traffic regulations on priority vehicles.

Article 67 states that vehicles, either private or public, responding to an emergency situation have priority over all other road users. Under certain conditions, they are exempt from certain other rules and regulations whilst responding to emergencies, such as speed limits. They also have priority through junctions, intersections and traffic lights, so long as they take appropriate precautions to avoid collisions with other road users, such as ensuring other vehicles are topped or safe and that there are no pedestrians in their path, for example. These exemptions only apply when responding to an emergency situation.

Article 67 also states that the installation of light and sound emitting devices can only be done

22

Article 68 also explains how vehicles of law enforcement authorities such as the police and Guardia Civil, fire service, Protección Civil, rescue services and health, public or private, are all considered priority vehicles when dealing with emergencies and will warn of their presence by means of lights (as detailed in Article 173), and special acoustic signals (sirens or bells). The drivers of these vehicles also have to be considerate as to when they use their signal equipment so as not to present a hazard to other road users.

Tow trucks (gruas) attending emergencies are also considered priority vehicles when their orange lights are flashing. This is to ensure the fastest response time to clear up the debris and vehicles following road incidents and collisions, so those vehicles too are allowed to proceed in the same way as the ones already detailed.

So far, we have looked at the requirements of those operating the emergency vehicles, now we will look at the obligation of other road users regarding priority vehicles.

Article 69 explains the expected behaviour of other road users, which states that as soon as a driver notices the presence of a priority vehicle, by hearing the siren or seeing the lights for example, drivers must take appropriate measures,

according to the circumstances of the time and place, to facilitate the passage of the priority vehicle, usually by moving to the right hand side, or stopping if necessary.

When a police or law enforcement vehicle positions itself behind any vehicle and also activated a red or yellow flashing, intermittent light, the driver of the vehicle must take appropriate precautions to stop their vehicle on the right-hand side of the road as soon as it is safe and practical.

A police or law enforcement vehicle behind you with a flashing red or yellow light is telling you to stop.

Once stopped, you must remain in the vehicle and await instructions from the officers involved, either by means of a loud speaker, or directly.

The police and law enforcement officers also use other methods for instructing vehicles to stop, which are detailed in the article “Sings and Signals from Police Officers Controlling Traffic�.

The final section of this article deals with a seemingly very unusual situation, but one which could save a person´s life, which is why it is included in the legislation.

in the procedures and processes for moving through traffic and junctions at high speed, and even with their lights and sirens, there are numerous incidents recorded where drivers still fail to move over, and also numerous incidents of collisions. A normal vehicle without a livery, siren and lights may well confuse other road users, despite the use of the horn and waving a sheet.

In these situations, you must still respect the laws relating to the movement of vehicles, such as speed limits and giving way at junctions, this is not an excuse for any driver to break the law. You should also be aware that if you do take on the role of saviour with your vehicle, you are highly likely to have to explain the circumstances which prompted you drive in this manner to law enforcement officers, as the process is reserved for lifethreatening situations, but one that may well mean the difference between life and death for a victim, and so is a valuable piece of information worth knowing.

Finally, remember, that if you see any vehicle displaying these characteristics, the situation they are responding to is likely to be one where a life or lives are in danger, so please respect their signals and move over to allow these priority vehicles to pass.

Article 70 explains how other vehicles can become priority vehicles dealing with an emergency, and are afforded similar rights to those official vehicles detailed already.

In certain circumstances, and only when there is a risk to life, any other vehicle can assume the role of a priority vehicle by intermittently sounding the horn, connecting an emergency light (if available) and using hazard lights, or waving a cloth, flag or even a handkerchief to raise the awareness of their presence to other road users.

Extreme caution must be exercised when driving under these circumstances, remember that the drivers of emergency vehicles are highly trained

23

Out goes the PDA As they go about their duties patrolling the roads of Spain, the Guardia Civil traffic police have a whole range of tools in their arsenal to both help those in need, and of course deal with those drivers who break the law.

One piece of kit carried by all of the officers, often stored in the panniers of their motorbikes, or inside the patrol cars, is their Personal Digital Assistant, or PDA. The device is linked via Bluetooth to a thermal printer, and so able to issue fines on the spot, and pools its data with the central office of the DGT traffic department.

The PDA can be used to check driver and vehicle details, such as if you are actually qualified to drive, if you´ve been banned, if you own the vehicle you are driving, and details about that vehicle and its insurance.

However, all of that is about to change as the trusty PDA is on its way out, set to be replaced by a more modern piece of equipment, the tablet.

24

In comes the Tablet Currently being delivered to Guardia Civil bases across the country are boxes full of new equipment.

Within those boxes is the replacement to their PDA´s, a tablet computer, specifically the ZTE E8Q, which will be the standard tablet in use by traffic officers, the ZTE E9Q, which will be used by traffic officers specifically involved in such activities as testing drivers and major incidents, and the bulky but heavily protected KAZAM T-700, used by officers in mountainous regions.

They are also having new printers delivered, which will link to the tablets to enable the issuing of traffic fines, these ZEBRA RW-420 models will replace the older, thermal printers, and they will also have new credit card machines to take the fines at the roadside, namely the Ingenico ICMP 122.

The equipment will also be supported by other accessories such as portable keyboards and of course cases, and will have specialist software installed to enable contact from anywhere in the country for checking details at the roadside, and recording other information.

We will look at the specifics of the software in future editions, for now the officers themselves are undergoing extensive training, the knowledge from which they will share with us soon.

25

26

Snow Preparations For those who live in the sunnier areas of Spain, the thought of snow may seem a long and distant memory, but the reality is, even such sun-drenched places like the Costa Blanca, are less than an hour away from mountainous regions where snow can quickly close roads shutting off towns and villages.

If there is a risk that you will be driving in snow, you really need to consider purchasing snow chains for your vehicle.

Carrying snow chains is not a mandatory requirement, but in some areas, where snow packs the road, it becomes compulsory to use them, and so having them ready is advisable.

The Guardia Civil, police or other authorities responsible for the road can impose a restriction without warning, placing signs on the roads indicating that the use of snow chains compulsory, and if you don´t have them with you, you have just one option, to wait until the road has been cleared by a snowplough or naturally, until the restriction is lifted.

Failure to adhere to the mandatory use is not only extremely dangerous, you risk a fine. If you see the “cadenas obligatorias”, or variant thereof, you must stop driving if you don´t have snow chains on your vehicle.

It might also be wise to take additional equipment with you, such as warm blankets, emergency food and drink, and always advise somebody of your journey and route, as mobile phone signals are not always as reliable as we might hope.

27

Leaders in Alternative Power 28

Nissan Leaf Following recent news that 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 corps have also now taken delivery of their first electric cars, the compact Nissan Leaf.

The Nissan Leaf (also formatted "LEAF" as a backronym for leading environmentally-friendly affordable family car)[11] is a compact five-door hatchback electric car manufactured by Nissan and introduced in Japan and the United States in December 2010, followed by various European countries and Canada in 2011.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official range for the 2016 model year Leaf with the 30 kWh battery is 172 km (107 miles) on a full battery charge, while the trim with the smaller 24 kWh battery is 135 km (84 miles), the same as the 2014/15 model year. Leaf battery packs can be charged from fully discharged to 80% capacity in about 30 minutes using DC fast charging.

29

No More ITV Documents

It has now been over a year since the new digital ITV documents came into force in Spain, implementing a new, electronic version of the technical characteristics document, rather than the traditional paper or card version.

The new tarjeta electrónica de características técnicas (eITV) is now automatically issued with the vehicle for all newly registered cars, vans and trucks from Wednesday 11th November, 2015.

All previously registered vehicle will continue to use the paper and card documentation.

The DGT has already implemented a system whereas manufacturers, importers and vehicle sales companies can submit the registration information by electronic means, which can be accessed and checked by officials.

Once checked and validated, the DGT will store the information in an electronic register, the Registro de Vehículos Prematriculados, which in turn issues the

30

vehicle identification number, the Número de Identificación del Vehículo (NIVE), which then becomes the unique identifier for that vehicle.

The DGT will then assign the registration number of the vehicle and issue the Tarjeta de Inspección Técnica, or technical inspection card, in electronic form only, which can be accessed on-line.

The vast majority of vehicle manufacturers are already integrated into the project and in October, nearly 50% of registered vehicles are already equipped with electronic tokens.

As of May 11, 2016, this type of electronic card was also issued for mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and quads.

Remember though, this is only for newly registered vehicles, those already on the roads and registered are not affected by this change. If your vehicle has the paper version, you must carry this document with you in the vehicle.

The Gallery

No, it ´s n ot

ke that e loads li

a goo

d ide

a!

y! ever y da

t see wid You don´

s training

Another new recruit enter

“Oh no! It´s th e old bill!!!”

That was the w inning ans wer to last month´ s caption competition, th anks to Malcolm Adler.

32

Caption

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

epower

ut the hors

It´s all abo

Protec

tion ta

Meanwhile, in

kes on

numero

us guis

es

Sweden

Competition

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

33

Transferring a Vehicle Following Death In the event of a vehicle owner passing away, there is a standard procedure for having the vehicle ownership transferred to a living beneficiary.

Transferring a Vehicle Following Death Article 609 of the Civil Code dictates the modes of acquiring ownership of property succession, and the administrative procedure set out in Article 32.6 of the Reglamento de Vehículos details the process.

PROVISIONAL TRANSFER OF A VEHICLE Immediately after a death, the vehicle can be transferred to a new named owner who may not be the long-term benefactor, but may seek ownership on a temporary basis.

In this event, the temporary custodian of the vehicle has 90 days in which they must notify the traffic department of this temporary custody and their legal address.

The person registering the vehicle must produce the following to the traffic department: A formal request The payment for transfer (the prices in 2015 are 52.80€ for most vehicles, 26.40€ for mopeds) Identity documents Death certificate of the original owner or marriage certificate stating the death Document proving the possession of the vehicle Driving license ITV card or technical status document of the vehicle An appointment at the traffic office The new provisional holder is deemed as the subject of any obligations corresponding to the holder of the vehicle.

FINAL TRANSFER OF THE VEHICLE The intended permanent vehicle owner must apply for the final transfer of the vehicle within a 90 day period.

The intended permanent owner must submit the same documentation as above, but with two additions: Certificate of liquidation or exemption from inheritance tax.

Declaration of heirs, or will, accompanied by a certificate of wills, or document stating the award of the vehicle.

You must also request a printed official form that will facilitate the transfer of the vehicle by the traffic department on behalf of the state. If the applicant is a minor or incapacitated, the documentation must also include the additional data and signature of the legal guardian or representative.

You will also have to pay the fees for the transfer.

If the applicant is an individual and a Spanish national, the National Identity Document (DNI) can be used in place of the driving license.

34

If the applicant is a person of foreign nationality, there are other processes to consider. If a Green Card is in force, that must also be presented, or, failing that, the official Identity of the country of origin (for citizens of other Member States of the European Union, the other States party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation) or Passport or Certificate of Citizenship if you are a citizen of a third country with the Foreigner Identification Number (NIE).

You may also have to produce the original document attesting to your home in Spain if you are not registered with foreign identity documents (e.g. certificate of ownership, lease, or police census card or certificate).

If the new owner is a legal entity or company, rather than an individual, you will also be required to produce the following: Original Tax identification card (CIF).

Original ID, passport, identity card and NIE Original document attesting to power to act on behalf of the company (available from the www.dgt.es website).

The process seems a very complicated one, especially given the time frame in which it must be completed, but the process is also a standard administrative procedure and so your advisor or lawyer will be able to advise you further. Always obtain advice from registered, legal representatives in Spain if there is any doubt.

35

Daytime Running Lights on Motorbikes The installation of Daytime Running Lights has become the norm for more modern vehicles, where additional illumination would allow other road users to have a heightened awareness of approaching vehicles.

However, this development has not been without its own problems, sometimes caused by the lack of knowledge by the driver, but also on occasion caused by the slowness in having laws adapted to satisfy the technology.

Firstly, we must be aware that Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are not a replacement for headlights. In fact, they are completely different. Many versions of Daytime Running Lights also switch off intermittently when the turning indicators are used so as not to distract from the purpose of those lights. Again, to stress their purpose of DRL, they are to make the vehicle more visible to other road users. Unlike headlights, they are not designed to illuminate the path for the driver. That is what headlights are for.

There have been numerous instances of drivers being seen and stopped whilst their vehicle only has Daytime Running Lights illuminated when headlights are required, such as at night or whilst driving through tunnels.

In these circumstances, headlights must be switched on.

More recently, motorcycles have also seen Daytime Running Lights fitted to the front. However, for bikers there was another problem, in that the law dictates that headlights must be illuminated on motorbikes during the day. The legislation did not allow for any variation on this, and so there have been numerous riders fined for riding whilst only having their Daytime Running Lights illuminated and not their headlights.

However, as of a change in the law in October of this year, Daytime Running Lights have been incorporated into the legislation and are now legally accepted as being adequate illumination for motorbikes during the normal daylight hours and suitable conditions.

Instruction number 15/S-140 /V-112 clarifies that under European Legislation, category “L” vehicles (mopeds of two or three wheels, motorcycles with or without sidecar, tricycles, light quadricycles and quadricycles) are incorporated into the laws regarding the use of Daytime Running Lights.

The legislation makes a clear distinction between Daytime Running Lights and low-beam headlights.

Low-beam lights are used to illuminate the road ahead of the vehicle without causing undue dazzle or discomfort to drivers coming in the opposite direction, or to other road users.

Daytime Running Lights face forward and are used to make the vehicle more visible in daylight.

The directive also clarifies the required colour of the Daytime Running Lights, stating that the only permitted colours are white or amber.

Motorcycles must be visible to other road users on the grounds of road safety, but as Daytime Running Lights have been developed for this purpose, manufactured specifically to meet this objective, they are acceptable under normal daytime conditions of visibility.

Motorbikes with DRL´s cannot be fined if they do not use the headlights, and they can use amber lights if they have been installed by the manufacturer. The document opposite was issued by the DGT to traffic police in order to clear up any confusion which they might have.

36

ASUNTO: Luces de circulaciĂłn diurna y de posiciĂłn delantera de los vehĂ­culos de categorĂ­a L

InstrucciĂłn 15/S-140 /V-112 La normativa europea permite en la actualidad la homologaciĂłn de vehĂ­culos de la categorĂ­a L (ciclomotores de dos o tres ruedas, motocicletas con o sin sidecar, vehĂ­culos de tres ruedas, cuatriciclos ligeros y cuatriciclos distintos de los anteriores) con luces de circulaciĂłn diurna (LCD o Daytime Running Lights- DRL) y con luz de posiciĂłn delantera de color ĂĄmbar.

El Ministerio de Industria, EnergĂ­a y Turismo ha incorporado esta normativa europea a nuestro ordenamiento jurĂ­dico a travĂŠs de las diferentes Ăłrdenes por las que se actualizan los anexos I y II del Real Decreto 2028/1986, de 6 de junio, sobre las normas para la aplicaciĂłn de determinadas Directivas de la CEE, relativas a la homologaciĂłn de tipo de vehĂ­culos.

Sin embargo, no se ha modificado de forma expresa el Reglamento General de VehĂ­culos, aprobado por Real Decreto 2822/1998, de 23 de diciembre, para incluir en los artĂ­culos sobre dispositivos de alumbrado y seĂąalizaciĂłn Ăłptica y en el anexo X que los desarrolla, las luces de circulaciĂłn diurna ni la posibilidad de que la luz de posiciĂłn delantera sea de color ĂĄmbar.

Esta situaciĂłn ha dado lugar a que, por una parte, se estĂŠn formulando denuncias a vehĂ­culos de categorĂ­a L por llevar la luz de posiciĂłn delantera de color ĂĄmbar, ya que en el anexo X del Reglamento General de VehĂ­culos se establece que debe ser de color blanco y, por otra parte, tambiĂŠn se estĂŠn denunciando a las motocicletas que, al disponer de luz de circulaciĂłn diurna, no utilizan la luz de corto alcance o de cruce durante el dĂ­a prevista en el artĂ­culo 104 a) del Reglamento General de CirculaciĂłn.

Esta DirecciĂłn General, una vez consultado el Ministerio de Industria, EnergĂ­a y Turismo, considera oportuno establecer lo siguiente: 1.

Luces de circulaciĂłn diurna.

El Reglamento delegado (UE) nÂş 3/2014, de 24 de octubre de 2013, que complementa el Reglamento (UE) nÂş 168/2013 del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 15 de enero de 2013, relativo a los requisitos de seguridad funcional para la homologaciĂłn de los vehĂ­culos de dos o tres ruedas y los cuatriciclos, hace la distinciĂłn entre luces de cruce y luces de circulaciĂłn diurna. a) Luz de cruce: dispositivo utilizado para iluminar la calzada por delante del vehĂ­culo sin deslumbrar ni molestar a los conductores que vienen en sentido contrario, ni a los demĂĄs usuarios de la vĂ­a (luces cortas).

+34 69 44 65 821