N332 Issue 27 - April 2024

LANE LAW CHANGES

Welcome to the N332 Magazine

Hello, it´s Mark Nolan here again introducing the latest edition of the N332 magazine.

The N332 team, me included, have been out and about meeting lots of people again, this time talking about Road Trip to Spain, a new guide providing an insight into driving in Spain.

So, firstly, thanks to everyone who came along in Torrevieja, Orihuela, Los Montesinos, Cartagena, and La Manga. We have a couple more talks before we end this season for the summer, including a trip to Murcia to talk to school pupils about e-scooters.

Anyway, enough about us. In this edition, we have our sections from our partners, Coys Rent a Car, Ibex Insurance, The Leader, and Quironsalud, with lots of information spanning through topics like alcohol, maintenance, radars, and more, and that special feature looking at proposed changes to lane laws which will benefit motorbikes and emergency vehicles.

Remember, we have a huge catalogue of articles on the website, n332.es, which has been recently upgraded by the way to make it easier to navigate, and faster, and you can pick up The Leader every Monday, not forgetting the information on the Facebook page.

If you have any questions you can always email news@n332.es, and whereas we can´t guarantee we will reply to all questions because of the volume we receive, we will try and create future articles around your doubts to answer as many questions as we can for the benefit of all.

Finally, at the bottom of the website, you can join our mailing list, and we promise we don´t bombard you, but you will be the first to find out about new developments we are working on like the N332 Podcast, and more videos later in the year.

For now, stay safe, and see you out and about.

Mark

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

Copyright © 2023 Mark Nolan

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

New Package of Measures to Reduce Road Traffic Incidents

The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has presented a package of measures with which the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) aims to reduce the number of traffic incidents and the fatal consequences. Grande-Marlaska explained the measures adopted at an information event held at the DGT headquarters, in which he was accompanied by the undersecretary of the ministry, Susana Crisóstomo; the general director of Traffic, Pere Navarro and the general chief of the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil, Tomás García.

In the first quarter of the year, 261 people died on interurban roads, 36 more people than in the same period of the previous year, an increase of 16 percent in statistics in which the normal variation in road incidents fluctuates by more /minus 5 percent. The injured hospitalised as a result of the incidents have been 908, one more than in the same period in 2023.

"We cannot remain impassive, it is imperative to break this upward trend in road mortality," explained Grande-Marlaska, "and that is why I asked the General Directorate of Traffic to analyse the incidents to identify what had happened during the first three months of the year and, based on that diagnosis, develop a shock plan with concrete measures to be executed immediately”.

X-ray of the incident

Before exposing the measures, the Minister of the Interior has pointed out the most significant characteristics of the incident rate in this first quarter:

• Greater lethality of incidents. The number of deaths has increased more than the number of hospitalised injuries.

• Deaths on motorways have increased by 50% compared to the same period last year, while on conventional roads the increase has been 5%.

• According to preliminary reports from the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil, there have been more serious incidents involving alcohol and inappropriate speed.

• The number of deaths traveling by car and motorcycle has increased by 23 percent. The greatest increase in fatal motorcyclists occurred on motorways. Commercial vehicles, especially trucks, have also increased their participation in mortality.

• All types of incidents, except victims being knocked down, have suffered increases. Road departures and collisions continue to be the most frequent. In the case of conventional roads, frontal collisions do not vary compared to the same period of the previous year, but lateral and frontolateral collisions do, which have increased.

• The number of people killed on a weekday increases by 29 percent while on the weekend the increase is only 1 percent. In the case of motorcycles, the highest incident rate was recorded on the weekend (+43%), while during the week the increase was 4%.

• By age, almost all of the increase in deaths occurred between 45 and 54 years of age (from 40 to 61 deaths).

This increase in incidents must be put in the current context, which is characterised by an increase in mobility and a general situation of worsening road safety that is shared at the European level and which is causing significant increases in road mortality in countries like Ireland, where deaths increased by 29 percent in the first quarter of this year, or in France, where the increase was 13 percent.

New Package of Measures to Reduce Road Traffic Incidents

The new measures

The measures announced today by the Minister of the Interior are the following:

1) Increased automated speed monitoring

95 new fixed speed control points will be installed on the roads, of which 60 percent will be sectional.

2) Net increase in the Traffic Group workforce

By the end of the year, 150 new agents will have joined the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil, which will increase its effective presence and the visibility of its motorists on the road.

3) Greater surveillance on motorways

In those communities where the increase in deaths has occurred on highcapacity roads (Andalusia and the Valencian Community) will be increased to reach 50 percent (until now it was 30 compared to 70 percent on conventional roads), the surveillance of the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil on these roads to increase their visibility and reach the largest possible number of users. In the rest of the communities, surveillance services will adapt to the incident rate that occurs on their roads.

Static patrols with high visibility, dynamic patrols and the use of unmarked commercial vehicles are some of the surveillance modes. Likewise, the services of the Traffic Group will be directed to the sections and times of day that have recently been identified as most dangerous.

In addition, throughout the road network, actions will be increased through the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) network: increased information through variable information panels, greater surveillance through cameras in areas with greater impact, greater monitoring of the most affected roads by the Traffic Management Centres (CGT), as well as greater air control through theAir Media Unit (UMA).

4) Increased alcohol and drug controls

The preventive blood alcohol tests to be carried out on the roads will be increased by 400,000 to reach six million by the end of this year. Like-

wise, drug controls are increased by 20,000 to reach 120,000 carried out in December 2024.

5) Reinforcement of motorcyclist safety

Control and surveillance campaigns aimed at motorcyclists will be intensified on weekends between June and October, months in which the presence of this group is more frequent.

Use of camouflaged motorcycles in those sectors of the autonomous communities with the greatest presence of motorcyclists (Andalusia, Valencia, Galicia, Castilla y León, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands). The use of these vehicles will be prioritised at the times and roads with the highest incident rate.

Information and prevention campaign aimed at motorcyclists through the publication and distribution of a leaflet and a brochure on road safety. In addition, awareness messages about this group and its vulnerability will be increased through social networks, variable message panels and any other available means.

6) Intensification of surveillance on professional transportation

Surveillance of professional and van transport will be increased, especially on weekdays. Likewise, more alcohol and drug tests will be carried out on professional drivers.

7) Promotion of territorial actions

In each of the autonomous communities, various actions will be applied to improve road safety. This includes a specific analysis of the incident rate in collaboration with the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil and the road owners, the updating of service orders in all Sectors of the Group based on the general director's surveillance framework instruction Traffic and collaboration with road owners to identify sections where user safety can be improved through infrastructure measures.

8) Information, awareness and promotion of preventive culture

Concrete actions will be implemented to address the incident rate and promote awareness of this problem. These measures include the public presentation of this shock plan, the strengthening of communications through press releases, social networks and its own media. Variable messaging panels will be used intensively to disseminate road safety awareness messages, especially adapted to the specific characteristics of the road or section in question and the incident rate present in said area.

EuropeApproves Standardised Disabled Parking Permit

MEPs have given the green light to the EU Disability Card and the European Parking Card for people with disabilities.

The new rules, approved by 613 votes in favour, 7 against and 11 abstentions and already agreed by Parliament and the Council, create an EUwide disability card to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to preferential conditions, such as reduced or no entry fees, priority access and access to reserved parking.

Both cards will give their holders, as well as their companions and support animals, access to most of the same conditions as national cardholders. The new rules will only apply to short-term stays and disability card holders moving to another Member State for a mobility programme, such as Erasmus+.

European Disability Card

The European Disability Card will be issued in physical format and, when available, in digital format, and will be free (including its renewal). Countries will decide whether to collect it in case of loss or deterioration.

European Parking Card for people with disabilities

The European Parking Card for people with disabilities will be issued in physical format. Countries may charge for the administrative costs of issuing and renewing the card.

Access to information

The Directive requires EU countries and the Commission to publicise the cards, in particular by creating a centralised European website. This website will be linked to national websites, with information on how to obtain, use and renew the cards and information on preferential conditions.

Third country nationals in the EU

The House also gave its approval to the provisional agreement between Parliament and the Council on the extension of EU disability and parking cards to third-country nationals legally residing in the EU, by 607 votes in favour, 8 votes against. against and 17 abstentions.

This proposal allows both cards to be issued to third-country nationals legally residing in Member States, including asylum seekers and stateless persons, and to their personal assistants, regardless of their nationality.

Since Brexit, the UK is a third country, and so this agreement from Europe improves the availability for British nationals living legally in the EU but does not extend to those who are not residents. UK-issued disabled parking permits are still not recognised as per the choice made by the UK Government.

Speaker's statement

Lucia Iuriš Nicholsonová (Renew, Slovakia) said: 'The EU must advocate for equal rights for people with disabilities within the EU. I am particularly proud that the cards now cover stays of more than three months so that people with disabilities have access to it when studying abroad. The importance of the European Disability Card goes beyond simply facilitating travel; demonstrates the EU's commitment to guaranteeing free movement for all Europeans.

Next steps

The agreed text will also have to be formally adopted by the Council before its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and its entry into force.

With the adoption of these proposals, Parliament responds to citizens' expectations regarding the fight against discrimination, equality and quality of life and inclusive labour markets, as expressed in proposals 29 and 14 of the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Spain Beats EU Toll Demand by Offering More Sustainable Transport Options

The general director of Road Transport, Roser Obrer, has confirmed to the various associations present in the National Road Transport Committee (CNTC) that the Spanish Government definitively rules out imposing tolls for the use of Spanish motorways, as requested by Brussels.A measure that worried not only self-employed professional drivers and small freight or passenger transport companies, but also the thousands of commercial agents and other self-employed workers who use their vehicle as a work tool.

In Spain there are currently 12,035 kilometres of high-speed roads, of which only 1,514 are toll roads, after 550 kilometres have become payper-use free in 2021, due to the end of the initial period of this concession. Roser Obrer has committed to the representatives of the transporters to shortly present a draft Royal Decree in which, among other things, this rejection of pricing roads and motorways is made clear.

Atax that road professionals popularly call “Eurovignette”, in reference to the sticker that the driver purchases and sticks on the windshield and that works as a flat rate, and that the European Union has been promoting for the road network for years. First, with a rate based on the time of use, and then through a toll based on the distance travelled.

The Government will encourage the transport of goods by rail

This Spanish refusal, which had already been agreed with the European Commission – which required it as part of the sustainable mobility commitments – has been able to be maintained in exchange for the use of trains in transporting goods in the country, a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to road transport. Otherwise, Brussels threatened to delay the second phase of the Spanish Recovery Plan to mobilise all of the Next Generation European funds between now and 2026 (between transfers and loans up to 25.6 billion euro in 2024, up to 44.6 billion in 2025 and up to 44.3 billion in 2026).

The new agreement between Spain and Brussels includes the replacement of tolls with other solutions to try to reduce polluting emissions from road transport. Which commits us to the introduction of measures to promote the transfer of goods by rail. With three new features: the first is the obli-

gation to implement a railway highway development program, “in those corridors where it is viable and there is a business interest for its development”; The second is the assumption of the commitment to “approve a bonus in railway charges for freight traffic for a minimum period of five years”; and, finally, that our country "develops a support program for rail freight transport, with incentive measures for the modal change from the road and with a concrete plan to modernise the sector."

The draft Royal Decree, which will be submitted to public consultation in the coming days, will expressly establish the non-application of tolls for circulation on motorways and other roads that are part of the General State Network, with the logical exception of the private motorways subject to concession regime, in other words, toll roads that already exists and are under a long-term management concept. Establishing the criteria for setting the maximum toll to be charged by private motorway concessionaires, and for which vehicle emissions must be taken into account of the price as a novelty.

Guardia Civil Motorcyclists to getAirbag Vests

The company Fecsa has been awarded a 2.5-million-euro contract to provide airbag vests for the traffic officers of the Guardia Civil for wearing on motorbike patrols.

The company has been contracted to provide 4,661 airbag vests, which automatically inflate in a fraction of a second after detecting a fall or impact, providing instant cushioned protection to the abdomen and the vital organs, as well as the hips and stabilises the spine.

The Ministry of the Interior had two specific demands in the contract, firstly that the device had autonomous activation, without wiring, and that it is lightweight so as not to be a burden for the rider.

Fecsa already provide officers with safety items, having won a contract a year ago to provide bulletproof vests, in a contract worth 1.5 million, and included specific requirements for providing correctly fitting vests for female officers.

Fecsa is a Spanish company, founded in 1934, located in San Sebastian de los Reyes, Madrid, and provides military-grade equipment and benefits from the help of European funding.

Need Window Tints?

by Car Registrations Spain

When it comes to enhancing your vehicle in Spain, one of the most popular modifications is the addition of aftermarket window tints. These tints not only elevate the aesthetic appeal of a vehicle but also offer a range of practical benefits. Here’s what you need to know.

RULES

Aftermarket window tints cannot be applied to the windscreen or front windows, must be stamped and certified by an approved workshop to show that they meet the legal requirements here in Spain and must be free from bubbles and not be in the process of delaminating.

BENEFITS

Enhanced Privacy and Security - Window tints help provide an added layer of privacy for vehicle occupants.

Protection from UV Rays - Window tints can also significantly reduce sun bleaching of upholstery and other surfaces.

Improved Comfort and Energy Efficiency - Window tints help maintain a cooler temperature inside the vehicle, meaning less reliance on air conditioning, which can save fuel.

Safety - In the event of an accident, window tints can help hold shattered glass together, protecting occupants from flying shards.

.Aesthetics:Apart from their practical benefits, tints can significantly enhance the look of a vehicle. They give a sleek, uniform appearance that many car owners desire.

FACTORYTINTS

Many modern vehicles have pre-tinted windows which do not need to be separately legalised. The main goal is to enhance vehicle privacy and aesthetics, but the tinted glass does not necessarily block heat nor provide higher levels of UV protection.

CONCLUSION

Aftermarket window tints not only enhance the visual appeal of your vehicle but also offer a suite of advantages that improve comfort, safety, and efficiency. While adhering to the specific regulations is crucial, the benefits of having certified window tints can significantly outweigh the initial cost.

Car Registrations Spain S.L. is the leading vehicle registration service of pre-registered foreign vehicles in Spain. If you have a foreign registered vehicle that you would like to register on to Spanish plates or think we can be of service, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team.

info@car-registrations-spain.com

+34 868 990 576

+44 (0)2380 200 706

https://www.facebook.com/carregistrationsspain/ https://quote.car-registrations-spain.com

Priority of Signs and Signals

Road signs and signals are designed to give us a visual representation of which rules and priorities we have to follow, but they can sometimes be overruled.At a school crossing, for example, you might see a police officer stopping cars when the lights are green, or even waving vehicles through on red, both of which are permitted, as you will see when we talk you through the priorities of signs and signals.

Ordinarily, it is obligatory for road users to adhere to the instructions of traffic lights and road signs located immediately on your right, above the roadway or on top of your lane and, in the case of lanes where traffic can turn left or go straight ahead, those located immediately on your left.

However, sometimes some of the signs and signals can change and be replaced by alternatives, and so we must know the priority in which we must adhere to instructions on the road.

The first priority is always the police, law enforcers and officials directing traffic. If an instruction is given by one of these operatives, it overrules any other sign or signal that you can see.

Secondly are road works and diversion signs. To describe them another way, circumstantial signalling that modifies the normal operational status of the road and fixed signals.An example of this is when traffic is directed onto the opposite carriageway or during works where the speed limit is lowered.A temporary speed limit on the road will always take precedence over the normal speed.

The third priority is traffic lights, these must always be adhered to at all times, remembering to stop when instructed, but they can sometimes be overruled by the previous two circumstances. Ared light means stop, as does a static amber. If the amber light is flashing, you may proceed with caution, if the way is clear.

Vertical traffic signs are the next in our list of priorities, where we have a wide range of different mandatory and advisory instructions and warnings about road characteristics.

Road markings are the final priority on the list, although they too can be indicative of mandatory requirements for drivers and other road users.

Any signals normally apply to the entire width of the road but the application may be limited to one or more lanes defined by longitudinal road markings.

As a final note, if there is ever any confusion over situations where multiple signs or signals are present, the more restrictive type of sign will always take prevalence. For example, on a junction with a Give Way sign on a pole but Stop written on the road, the Stop instruction must be adhered to.

What in the blood alcohol level in Spain?

The blood alcohol level represents the volume of alcohol in the blood and is measured in grams of alcohol per litre of blood (g/l) or its equivalent in exhaled air.

According to current legislation, the blood alcohol levels allowed for drivers in Spain are the following: 0,5 g/l for general drivers, 0,3 g/l for professional drivers.

Even below the legal limit, the risk of incident may already be increased. Therefore, it is best to avoid driving after consuming any amount of alcohol. The only truly safe rate is 0.0 g/l.

The blood alcohol level you reach after consuming alcohol can vary greatly. Therefore, even if you think you know your limits, it is really easy for alcohol to surprise you. It is always best not to drink alcohol at all if you are going to drive.

After ingestion, alcohol is absorbed in the digestive system, approximately 20-25% in the stomach and most in the small intestine, from where it passes into the blood, reaching the highest concentration after 30 - 90 minutes. The absorption rate can be modified by:

Food: the presence of elements in the stomach delays absorption.

The type of drink: both distilled drinks and mixtures with carbonated drinks are absorbed faster.

The elapsed time: at the beginning of the intake, it is absorbed faster.

The degree of habituation or tolerance. Chronic heavy drinkers absorb alcohol more quickly than abstainers.

After absorption, the blood distributes the alcohol throughout the body. We call the amount of alcohol present in the blood the blood alcohol level, the higher the level of alcohol in the blood, the greater the effects on driving.

After absorption, most of the alcohol (90-98%) is metabolized in the liver at a constant rate and another part is eliminated unmetabolized through urine, sweat and exhaled air.

It is the determination of alcohol in exhaled air that is used in breathalyser controls, taking advantage of the fact that there is a constant 2001/1 relationship between the level of alcohol in the blood and the level in exhaled air. The measurement is carried out using a device called an alcohol meter, making the method bloodless, comfortably, and reliably.

In expelled air, the limits are 0,25 mg/l for general drivers, 0,15 mg/l for professionals.Again, the only safe limit is zero.

Another way to know the blood alcohol level is by determining the level of alcohol in the blood, a test that is used in those cases in which the interested party says they cannot perform the test in air due to suffering from an illness that prevents them from blowing, or in injured persons, or in those cases in which the interested party requests a contrast test, the extraction will be carried out in a health centre.

The Spanish Number Plate System

The Spanish number plate system dates back to 1900, although the concept and layout has undergone a number of transformations since then, the latest format taking over a century later in September, 2000.

The first registration system adopted in Spain, which was active until 1971, consisted of one, two or three letters representing the province and up to six numbers without zeros.Although they are becoming less frequent, you can still see some of them on the roads.

In October 1971 the alphanumeric provincial format came into force, with one or two letters representing the province, four digits and one or two letters at the end, fromAto ZZ.

Currently, the Spanish number plate is formed by the European symbol on the left-hand side, in a tall band, then four numbers and three letters, which allows a total of 80 million combinations. In other words, the system is safe to continue until 2040.

The numeric sequence started at 0000 and ends at 9999, however, interestingly, the letters begin at BBB and will end at ZZZ, but will not contain any vowels, nor will the combination include the letters Ñ or Q. The reason that vowels are not included is that it avoids the creation of words, for example, BOT, COW, CAT, FBI etc, whereas Ñ and Q are omitted as the number plate system forms part of a European standard and those letters could be confused for others.

Currently, as ofApril 2024, new registrations are taking on the MPX code.

Can I wear a Bluetooth headset when driving?

The short answer is NO, you can’t.

In Spain, it is illegal to wear any form of headset when driving, which includes headphones, or “buds”, and also Bluetooth devices commonly used to connect to mobile phones.

This rule applies to all vehicle drivers, including bicycle and scooter riders, as well as drivers of motorised vehicles.

The only exception, a recent change, is that certain approved devices can be used for communicating on motorcycles.

The reason why headphones and headsets are banned in Spain when driving is that the driver must be fully aware of their surroundings at all times, and not distracted.

Being aware of your surroundings includes the utilisation of all senses, and the ability to hear is no less important than the ability to see. This is the same reason why playing music too loud when driving is also an offence.

There is an exception for hearing aids provided and approved for medical reasons, a matter which will be reflected on your driving licence in the codes section.

Tickets Soon to be Released for a Fantastic Free European Celebration Gala

Tickets will soon be released for a fantastic, and free, celebration gala to commemorate Europe Day in Torrevieja, which will be held at the Torrevieja InternationalAuditorium, on May 9.

The Department of the Presidency together with the Department of International Residents of the Torrevieja Council have organised the event in commemoration of Europe Day 2024, and this special gala will feature a performance by David Civera, who participated in Eurovision in 2001 with the song “Dile que la quiero” (Tell her that I love her), achieving a creditable 6th position.

The gala, which will be held on May 9 at 7:30 p.m., will feature several performances by local artists that will make the audience vibrate prior to David Civera's concert.

Tickets are free with invitation and can be reserved and downloaded from the culturatorrevieja.com portal starting May 3.

The Torrevieja Council will also provide a free bus service from calle Faleria to the InternationalAuditorium, with the first departure at 6:00 p.m. and the last at 6:30 p.m.

Plus, on May 11, the "Europe Day" Pétanque tournament will take place, from 9:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on the courts of the Rocajuna urbanisation, with the participation of several European teams, made up of settled players in Torrevieja and who will represent the following countries: Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Belgium, and the Rest of Europe.

Spain, winner of the Tournament in the last edition of 2023, will of course try to retain the title.

Events from thisistorrevieja.com

Theatre, Culture and Music

On 5 May, Totally Tina takes place in Torrevieja Municipal Theatre, a tribute to Tina Turner from the 2008 winner of TV’s Stars in Their Eyes.

Between the 10 and 12 May, Torrevieja will go back to the 80’s and 90’s with a musical spectacle at the Torrevieja Municipal Theatre.

The Film Symphony Orchestra will also perform in Torrevieja on 25 May, offering music from the likes of Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, and Mulan.

Big Name Music

Jonas Brothers – 25 May in Barcelona, Taylor Swift – 29 and 30 May in Madrid, Calvin Harris –31 May and 9 and 14 June on Ibiza, AC/DC – 1 June in Seville, Olivia Rodrigo – 18 June in Barcelona, 20 June in Madrid, Tom Jones – 23 June in Valencia, 23 July in Marbella, Alicante on 25 July, Chiclana de la Frontera on 28 July, Almeria on 4 August, Alice Cooper – 28 June in Barcelona, Pearl Jam – 6 and 8 July in Barcelona, Garbage – 9 July in Barcelona, Metallica – 12 and 14 July in Madrid, James Blunt – Barcelona on 17 July, Alicante on 19 July, Chiclana de la Frontera on 20 July, Simple Minds – 26 July in Granada.

Special Events

Torrevieja May Fair will take place from 9 to 12 May 2024, once again at the Station Park. Airshows

Aircraft fans can look forward to the Patrulla Aguila aerobatic team performing locally in the San Javier Airshow, taking place from 3rd-5th May – Festival Aéreo San Javier – over the playas de Santiago de la Ribera, San Javier, Murcia.

They are also at the DIFAS 2024, taking place in Oviedo on 1 June, and on 15th June, the 50º Aniversario del ALA 14, in Albacete, where a competition is open to design a Eurofighter livery.

The Gijon Airshow is on 27 and 28 July.

Sport and Fitness

From 6 May a new swimming class course starts in the Torrevieja municipal swimming pool.

On 18 May both a 10k run and walk is taking place between San Miguel de Salinas and Los Montesinos, with a focus on raising funds for charity.

From 31 May to 2 June, the YOGAMAR conference takes place in Guardamar del Segura.

From 22 June to 14 July the Torrevieja International Cup will take place bringing together a variety of international competitors in various disciplines, including football and rugby.

Other Events

RBF Torrevieja 2024 - Reggaeton Beach Festival – 3 and 4 August.

Brilla Torrevieja – 27 July to 12 August.

How to Check Your Driving Licence Points Online

The penalty points system in Spain was introduced in July, 2016, not only to penalise poor driving, but also to award those who drive safer.

The system is the opposite to that of the UK, in so much as if you commit an offence you will be given points on your licence, in Spain you are given an allocation which are then taken away in the event of committing an infraction. Lose all your points and the licence is withdrawn.

If you have a Spanish driving licence you can check how many points you have via their secure website.

If you visit the traffic department´s official website, www.dgt.es, you will find all of the information you need, but the majority of it is only available in Spanish. You need to access the electronic office, so look for “Accede a la sede Electrónica”. This can be (mostly) changed to English once you get there.

Look for “Permisos de Conducir” in Spanish, then “Permiso por puntos”. Then, “Consulta de puntos”.

You will now have all of the information about checking your points and how to access the system. You can check your current points balance as long as your permit is valid. You will be able to obtain information about your history of recovery and loss of your points, detailing the date and the points penalised or earned, clarifying the possible types of infractions in which you incurred or the awareness courses you took.

Remember that your driving license has a number of points associated with it.As violations are committed, points are subtracted from your license until they reach zero. At that time, the loss of validity will be processed. You will have a period of 10 days to present allegations. If you finally receive firm notification of the loss of validity, you will have to hand in the permit at any Headquarters or Traffic Office, and you will not be able to drive from then on.

Since October 1, 2023, it is possible to check the driving licence point balance by phone, which replaced the previous access by username and password. The MiDGT app is becoming the reference for all driving administrative functions.

Say NO toAlcohol or Drugs

Although it remains an issue throughout the year, there are certain times when the problem is amplified, and that problem is the deadly mixture of alcohol or drugs and driving.

For alcohol, Spain does have a prescribed limit, which is less than other countries, including the UK for example, but the only safe limit for either alcohol or drugs before driving is zero.

It is worth noting also that the roadside breathalyser in Spain is used in evidence, and so if you fail at the roadside, you face the immediate consequences.

Sanctions are between €500 and €1000, and the loss of points from 4 to 6, with the most serious offences, and repeat offenders, being hit harder.

The maximum alcohol level for novice and professional drivers is 0.15 mg/l in exhaled air. For other drivers it is 0.25 mg/l and if it exceeds 0.60 mg/l, it is a crime. For other drugs, any presence in the body is grounds for sanctions.

The Criminal Code typifies crimes against road safety and establishes the following penalties for driving with excess alcohol or under the influence of drugs.

CARRYING ITEMS

Alcohol:

Rates higher than 0.60 mg / l in air and rates higher than 1.2 gr / l in blood - Prison for three to six months or a fine of six to twelve months or community service for 30 to 90 days, and deprivation of the right to drive for one to four years.

Refusal to submit to the test - Prison from six months to one year and deprivation of the right to drive from one to four years.

Drugs:

Driving under the influence of toxic drugs, narcotics or psychotropic substances - Prison for three to six months or a fine of six to twelve months or work for the benefit of the community for 30 to 90 days, and deprivation of the right to drive for one to four years.

Refusal to submit to the test - Prison from six months to one year and deprivation of the right to drive from one to four years.

Staying Safe Whilst Seated

Maintaining a proper position in the vehicle is not only important for our comfort, but also crucial for our safety, and leaves you exposed to a fine if you don’t.

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.

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 further 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.

You may remember when learning to drive your instructor advising you to grip the steering wheel with two hands, and in the “ten-to-two” or “quarter-to-three” position, the latter now being

favourable as the driver´s arms will also be pushed away from the steering wheel during an airbag deployment.

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“.

What

Happens

if I Don’t Pay a Traffic Fine?

If you received a fine and it genuinely wasn’t you, perhaps you’d let someone else drive your car, or even your number plate may have been cloned, it might just be a genuine mistake by the system, whatever the reason, there is a process of contesting the fine, the details of which are published in English on the DGT’s website, www.dgt.es.

However, on this occasion, what if it was you but you just choose not to pay it. What then are the consequences of ignoring or failing to pay a traffic fine?

If you have a foreign licence and you are stopped to be dealt with for a traffic violation, you have to pay the fine on the spot, with a risk of your vehicle being immediately impounded if you don’t or can’t.

As a Spanish licence holder, you don’t have to pay on the spot and, even better, most fines

have a discount for prompt payment. The fine is reduced by 50% if it is paid within 20 calendar days following its notification (either by hand or by postal mail). During this period of time, the fine may also be appealed, presenting the allegations and the evidence deemed necessary up to 30 days after it was received. Once that period has passed, there is no obligation for you to be notified again, it is the TaxAgency who takes over the matter. They will then notify you with what is known as an enforcement order, a document indicating that the fine is applied, now with a 10% surcharge and a new payment period. If you continue with the intention of not paying, there will be a new notification, this time with a surcharge of 20% and a new deadline for payment. Once this option has been exhausted, the matter becomes even more serious and you will be informed that the normal procedures have not been satisfactorily settled. It is now, after a relatively short space of time, that the TaxAgency begins to seize the assets in order to settle the account, for example taking the money from your bank account. If you have no money in your account then the TaxAgency can obtain it through other revenue streams, such as direct from your salary or pension. If you still haven’t got enough to pay, then the next stage is for the TaxAgency to seize assets, such as real estate for example.

Check your Screen Wash Levels

It is spring once again, and as the seasons change, so do driving dynamics, and one thing that is often neglected until we realise that its empty is our screen wash reservoir.

One thing that spring brings is more insects, and, sadly, many of them face a very short life, taken out by unexpected collisions with vehicles, but that too poses a risk for those vehicles as visibility is often hampered by the remains of their short, though hopefully meaningful lives, as they are laid to rest on our windscreens.

Therefore, to remove all traces of their being from our windscreen, it is important to remember to keep your screen wash topped up.

Some of the bugs might need to be removed manually, as they can be stubborn and streak across the windscreen.

It ought to be one of your (at least) monthly rituals, when you check your lights, oil, and tyres as well as other parts, making sure that your vehicle is maintained in a safe and roadworthy manner.

Although the engine compartment is not an area many of us are familiar with, nor do many of us want to be, there are certain areas that are a must for every driver. Luckily, most vehicle manufacturers make the bits we need both easily accessible and easy to identify, so that we don’t have to “fiddle” with anything unnecessary.

Check with your vehicle manual for the location of your screen wash tank, although it is often identified by a standard symbol, and the cap is often a different colour to it stands out, and then keep a check on the levels, topping them up as needed, but at least once a month, as we say.

Once you know that the levels are okay, and with approved liquids only in there (hint: washing up liquid doesn’t work as well as you might think), you then need to use it. Find out the different setting on your vehicle so that you know how to use the screen wash feature. Some vehicles also have them on the rear, so check that out too. Then use the wash to keep your windscreen clear of any obstructions.

It is also worth remembering that if you use your screen wash when

the vehicle is moving then the trajectory of the spray may differ to that of a standing vehicle. It is also worth keeping two other points in mind if the vehicle is moving too, such as if you spray too much, it may obscure your vision, which could be dangerous.Also, the spray may go too high and even over your vehicle, spraying whatever is behind you. Okay, that might mean the car behind gets a free windscreen wash, but for a two-wheeled vehicle that could result in dangerous conditions.

That said, the screen wash is there for a purpose, because our windscreen must always be kept clean, so use it. Remember to keep all windows clean and clear, as well as lights, mirrors and the number plates, as these form essential functions on the vehicle, and some of which are mandatory requirements to do so.

Fixed Radar Cameras

On the n332.es website, you can read about speed detectors used on the road by the Guardia Civil, but there is also a network of fixed cameras around the country, which remain in place the whole time.

The locations of these cameras are published on the DGT website, and are provided in mapping devices, because these cameras are installed in areas known to be problematic in terms of the numbers of incidents which occur on the roads they cover. In other words, the presence of these cameras is not primarily to fine drivers, but rather to encourage safer driving on an otherwise potentially dangerous road.

Although it takes on different aesthetic forms, from small white boxes to larger containers on poles, the functionality remaining the same, one of the most recent additions to the arsenal in called Traffic Eye.

Traffic Eye is manufactured by Tradesegur, and was the first to be released in Spain, and is an intelligent camera and as well as monitoring speed, it is capable of spotting if a driver is using a mobile and if everyone is wearing a seat belt. Now, more providers are able to supply similar equipment which are working well for traffic law enforcement groups around the world.

The system is live across the entire road network of Spain, with hundreds of these intelligent eyes keeping a check on every vehicle that passes.

Traffic Eye and its cousin MultiRadar C, offer the most advanced technologies that are currently available for monitoring traffic, which not only check and report speeding motorists, but also other safety critical traffic violations such as not wearing a seat belt, children and animals not properly restrained, using a mobile phone or electrical device whilst driving, and checking with the established databases to see if your vehicle is correctly insured.

One of the surprising functions of Traffic Eye is that it is capable of monitoring traffic in multiple lanes, and, the bit which surprises many motorists, in both directions at the same time. This means that unlike the traditional roadside cameras, your activities can be monitored irrespective of the camera’s position.

How Long Does it take to Receive a Traffic Fine Through the Post?

If you commit a traffic offence, it is quite possible you will be stopped on the road and issued with a fine straight away, which foreign licence holders a likely to have to pay on the spot, but in the case of Spanish licence holders, there is a payment period where you can benefit for a discount for prompt payment. However, not all fines are issued on the road, and many are issued remotely, and so the question is, how long does it take to receive a traffic fine through the post?

It Depends!

The simple answer to the question is, “it depends”! This is due largely to the fact that the different bodies that issue and manage fines have different procedures.

If, for example, it is a speeding fine directly managed by the DGT through the Electrónica Vial, it can take approximately one to two weeks.

On the other hand, if it is a fine within the competencies of a local council, it may take longer, even a month.

Therefore, there is no standardised and stipulated time for a fine to arrive at your home. Everything will depend on the body that manages it.

Notifications

That said, one thing must be clear: although there is no specific time for a fine to arrive at your home, there is a period after which violations become annulled.

Specifically, infractions classified as minor (less than 100 euro) expire after three months, while those classified as serious do so after six months.

After this time, if you do not receive notification of the fine within that

period, you will not have to pay it, since the penalty will have expired, as established by the Law on Traffic, Circulation of Motor Vehicles and Road Safety. Likewise, if the notification arrives within the deadline, but you do not agree, you can also appeal the fine.Awarning though, appealing a fine will cancel out the prompt payment reduction offer.

You cannot, however, simply ignore the notification in the post, as a notification is still considered delivered even if you do not receive it, as you will see below.

Ways of notifying of traffic fines

It can be a notification on the spot, if an agent imposes the sanction on you at the same moment in which you have committed it. For example, if you exceed the alcohol level in a control.

They can also communicate it to you by postal mail. If they have not been able to notify you of the sanction immediately, you will receive the notification at your home (by registered post). If the communication does not reach any address or is rejected, the notification is published on the Edictal Board of Sanctions (TESTRA) and on the Single Edictal Board of the BOE (TEU).

Other ways to notify fines are through the Electronic RoadAdministration (DEV), through this DGT platform, which takes about 10 days, and the MiDGT application, after a few weeks.

Proposed Changes to Lane Legislation to Benefit Emergency Vehicles and Motorbikes

The DGT is already planning various modifications to the General Traffic Regulations and a new rule will affect all drivers, for the first time, it specifies how all vehicles must act to make way for priority vehicles. Until now, the practice used in Spain has been a courtesy, rather than law.

Other proposed changes will be of benefit to motorbikes and will change how we drive in snow and rain, although, for now, these are proposals, and not yet legislation.

Proposed Changes to Lane Legislation

The DGT will take an important step forward in the coming months in the traffic rules on the use of lanes and the hard shoulder in special conditions. In some cases, to resolve safety problems, in others to improve the performance of emergency services and even to respond to old demands from specific groups, the reality being that the General Traffic Regulations, Reglamento General de Circulación (RGC), will perhaps experience its biggest changes in a long time.

The project to modify a series of articles of the RGC is already being planned in the DGT, as the organisation itself has explained through its own official magazine, called Tráfico y Seguridad Vial. In an article it also specifies exactly that, with the aim of obtaining greater safety and fluidity in circulation, a new Royal Decree will include these new modifications with the intention of them coming directly into force next year, 2025.

Motorbikes Will BeAllowed to Use the Hard Shoulder (Sometimes)

One of the most notable changes proposed will be the possibility for motorcycles to ride on the righthand hard shoulders on all types of roads, but only during conditions of traffic congestion and as long as two conditions are met: that they do not go more than 30 km/h and that they respect the priority of use of vehicles that are obliged to use the shoulder, such as mopeds and microcars (technically the same thing). To do this, article 36.3 of the RGC will be modified.

At the moment, motorbikes must remain on the main carriageway and continue with the normal flow of traffic. Some vehicles, such as mopeds, as we have mentioned, are obliged to use the hard shoulder.

Prohibition of Using the Overtaking Lane inAdverse Weather

Another important novelty will be to add a new point to article 31.2 of the General Traffic Regulations, which will prohibit overtaking by all vehicles on motorways when ice or snow complicates traffic.All vehicles will be required to exclusively use the righthand lane, leaving the lefthand lane, the overtaking lane, free for the exclusive use of emergency vehicles and snow ploughs.

The Emergency Corridor Will be Mandatory

Another significant change will be that the utilisation of a so-called emergency corridor will become mandatory, rather than the current advisory, or courtesy state.

The DGT is already announcing a new modification of article 31.3 of the General Traffic Regulations to regulate the behaviour that all drivers must adopt on motorways in emergency situations and when the cars are completely stopped or traveling very slowly, mainly due to a retention or incident.

Until now, the regulations established that priority must always be given to priority vehicles in emergency services, but without specifying the behaviour of the rest of the drivers, in other words, the law gives emergency vehicles priority now, but doesn’t explain how that priority is put into practice. This new modification of the RGC will specify exactly how they have to act from now on by law.

Thus, the “corridor” must be opened to the emergency services, as the DGT will regulate.

The DGT will thus establish that drivers must move to the sides, with those in the right lane going to the right and those in the left logically to their left, in such a way that they leave a central corridor of free access to allow the passage of emergency vehicles.

“The objective of this modification is precisely to explain in a clear way how drivers should behave in these circumstances to facilitate the work of the emergency services and expedite their access to the victims of an incident ,” explainsAna Blanco, the deputy director of DGT circulation.

Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja expands space dedicated to Health Premium Card patients with an exclusive heated terrace

The Quirónsalud Torrevieja hospital expands the space of its Premium Lounge with the aim of offering a more personalised, preferential, and exclusive treatment to international patients of its Health Premium Card

The new Premium Terrace is a large and bright glazed space with all the maximum amenities and comfort to enjoy a quiet environment while patients are in the hospital. This new space, fully air-conditioned to preserve its temperature in winter and summer, has an area for coffee, drinks, and healthy snacks, as well as a rest area designed for relaxation and rest during waits. This space also has a coworking area equipped with Wi-Fi, plugs and furniture for work and enjoyment with electronic devices in comfort.

Advantages of the Health Premium Card

Users of the Health Premium Card have a personal health advisor, priority access for medical appointments, a plan adapted to achieve personalised health goals that includes a check-up to know the initial condition of the patient, as well as an exclusive Premium Lounge within the hospital where they can carry out all the procedures related to their health.

In addition, the Quirónsalud Torrevieja hospital provides you with a team of free interpretation and translation of English, German, French, Dutch, Flemish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Russian, among other languages, trained in the medical terminology and cultural approaches of international patients.

Among the benefits of Health Premium Card users are:

An initial check-up.

Priority access to appointments.

Three free-choice consultations with specialists.

Six ambulance transfers.

Fourteen nursing cures at home.

Free dental cleaning.

Tests for the detection of major diseases.

10% discount on private treatments.

Quirónsalud Torrevieja, an international reference hospital on the Costa Blanca

Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja is an international hospital of excellence, with a team of highly qualified professionals and state-of-the-art technology. It offers a multitude of medical specialties, making it a prestigious multidisciplinary centre both in the field of oncology and in the rest of the medical and surgical specialties. It is the private hospital with the most cutting-edge technology in the Valencian Community. In its more than twenty years of experience, more than 400 people work daily to care for its patients. Due to its location, located in the city of Torrevieja, it is a benchmark for health tourism and for foreign citizens looking for their new residence on the Costa Blanca.

International Admission

The hospital has its own international admissions department, whose sole task is to process authorisations with national and international companies. All authorisation formalities are carried out on a daily basis with national and international insurance companies directly and immediately. The patient does not have to worry about these procedures, this department is exclusively in charge.

International Inpatient Ward

The hospital has an international inpatient ward created to ensure the maximum convenience, comfort, and well-being of the international patient. The patient feels at home throughout the stay and does not perceive the cultural differences that may arise with their idiosyncrasies. All rooms are single and spacious to ensure the comfort of the patient and companion. The healthcare staff is fluent in multiple languages and attends to the international patient as fluently as possible.

Do you want to know more about this space? Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=U8HTljgfP74

More information about the Health Premium Card Service through its website: www.healthpremiumcard.com