Driving in Spain

[davel*]

Evening all,

I'm heading off to Barcelona in the morning for a week and shall be driving around on the wrong side of the road for the first time.

Other than the obvious fact that I'll be on the other side of the road is there anything in paticular to look out for/be aware of??

Thanks chaps

[Finlandia]

Will you be driving a rental LHD car? In that case, be aware that all the pedals and gear-patterns are mirrored, not only the position of the steeringwheel.

[davel*]

Yeh it's a LHD car. So I've got the clutch on my right foot??

Glad I ticked the £12 insurance waiver option

[Finlandia]

davel* said:

Yeh it's a LHD car. So I've got the clutch on my right foot??

Glad I ticked the £12 insurance waiver option

Absolutely, and the sterringwheel goes the other way too, rotate left and the car goes right

In reality, just keep RIGHT, and give way to traffic from right at junctions, should be ok with that.




Edited for trying to avoid carnage on the Spanish roads...for God's sake keep RIGHT!!! Hear me? RIGHT!!

Edited by Finlandia on Tuesday 2nd June 20:58

Remember, keep RIGHT!

Edited by Finlandia on Tuesday 2nd June 21:04

[davel*]

Lol

Cheers

[P924]

The only thing I'd warn you about are roundabouts. The Spanish don't really do roundabouts. Expect people to just straight line them, go all the way around the outside to take the last exit, or even stop on the roundabout and give way to joining traffic. (though the last isn't that common).

you can safely ignore the policia local, and Policia nacional, but be wary of the Guardia Civil.

If theres a sign for a speed camera, then there will be a speed camera. :-) no sign, no camera!

[kingofherts]

ALWAYS wear a seatbelt. I didn't one day, and got a 120Euro on the spot fine from the Guardia Trafico. (Traffic police)

Oh, and the spanish just dont get roundabouts... Sometimes they stop ON the roundabout to let others onto it, sometimes they don't.

As a rule of thumb, just watch everywhere on a roundabout!

[Asterix]

You'll smack your hand into the drivers door a few times when changing gear but after a few miles, sorry, kilometres, it's fine.

[Deva Link]

Through Barcelona itself you'll be lucky to actually be moving.

[bazking69]

Just pay attention at roundabouts and look the right way at junctions.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Asterix said:

You'll smack your hand into the drivers door a few times when changing gear but after a few miles, sorry, kilometres, it's fine.

And get in the passenger set after filling up with petrol

[Jazoli]

I lived there for years, be amazed at the lane disipline, you will get tailgated ruthlessly, watch out everywhere for bikes and scooters, they will come from all sides and hide in your blind spots, do not go over 160kph, if you get caught it is a big fine and even a prison sentance these days (yes really, it's worse than here in that respect)

Just relax and enjoy it, and don't try and race the locals

Just looked and the OP has probably gone, I would also recommend a decent sat nav as Spanish signage off the main routes is crap.

Edited by Jazoli on Wednesday 3rd June 11:42

[KevF]

Ahhh what you need is that single handed European Driving Glove that was on Dragon's Den....you wear it on your right hand to remember to drive on the right....

Simples......