Who drives on the correct side of the road? The debate between Brits and the rest of Europe that will never settle. Although the most obvious change, this isn’t the only road difference you may face when moving to Spain when driving. So if you are, here are Good Morning Spain’s top tips and things to look out for on the road when driving abroad.
Right-hand side vs Left-hand side
In Spain they drive on the right and in the UK on the left. The change of direction can naturally take some getting used to when you move to Spain, and more often than you think can lead to confusion. Have you ever seen someone driving directly towards you? Just the thought would make any driver shudder.
Road signs
Spain follows the EU signs with red circles for prohibitions, blue circles for mandatory actions, and yellow diamonds for priority roads. Whereas in the UK colours and shapes may vary and instead of symbols they use written English words.
Speed limits
Speed limit signs in Spain are in km/h (kilometre per hour) instead of the British mph (miles per hour). Additionally, Spanish speed limits are higher than in the UK. For example; 120km/h (74.5 mph) is the maximum speed on Spanish motorways and on UK motorways the max is 70mph (112km/h). Don’t attempt 120mph on a motorway!
Roundabouts
If you are used to the clockwise and disciplined roundabout action in the UK, Spain may come as a shock. In Spain you enter the roundabout on the right and exit to the right (counterclockwise) and they tend to be multi-laned with less strict lane discipline. On the contrary, in the UK, roundabouts are very disciplined and are entered and exited on the left-hand side.
Driving culture
It’s not very rare to hear a Brit complaining about Spanish driving, and it is not surprising as the driving culture is extremely different. In the UK it is very common to stick to road signs, rules and there are many speed cameras, so the assertiveness of Spanish drivers can often surprise people. Beware, as in Spain it is more normalised to overtake.
Read more about driving in Spain: Car Insurance for Drinking & Driving
Safety and insurance tips
These are some of the main differences between British and Spanish roads which you may need to keep in mind when driving in Spain to avoid risks. If you are planning to drive abroad it is essential to have an efficient insurance company which includes roadside recovery if you ever find yourself in a risky or tricky situation. If you are not comfortable with the Spanish language yet, we recommend also ensuring your insurance company has a GPS locator which can help you be located without having to pronounce or speak.
It is tempting to choose an international company for your comfort, however it can be more beneficial to use a Spanish company as they understand the local traffic laws and have a better control over the procedures and best actions to take. We recommend Linea Directa as it has a very extensive service for expats, at competitive prices with everything in English, but geared for the Spanish laws to cover issues that foreign companies may not even contemplate.
These are our Good Morning Spain best road recommendations to ensure your and others safety on the roads. For more information on Spanish roads, traffic laws and driving consult DGT.
