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Road safety in Spain

Cheryl

Hello everyone,

Navigating roads and experiencing traffic in Spain as an expat can be a learning experience. We invite you to share your insights in order to help other expats and soon-to-be expats stay safe on the road in Spain, whether driving, cycling or just crossing the street.

Are traffic rules strictly respected or enforced in Spain?

Are there any unspoken rules, unexpected habits or regulations that you had to adapt to?

Are the roads safe and well-maintained?

Are there specific times of day, weather conditions, or seasons that make driving more dangerous?

If you have children, do you feel comfortable letting them travel alone on local roads, whether on foot, by bike, or motorbike?

What are your tips or advice to stay safe on the roads in Spain?

Share your insights and experience.

Thank you for your contribution.

Cheryl
Team

See also

Living in Spain: the expat guideWhere should I live in Spain?Gay Married Couple Looking to Relocate to SpainMost common scams in SpainShipping my personal belongings from Florida to Spain
Dragoxvi

Road rules are not respected but enforced.


Many local people love to watch F1 and they like to enjoy roads like a circuit.


Some people show a narcisistic behaviour on roads and they believe to be always right.

Do not bother to change their minds, they will become aggressive.


A Chinese friend of mine, she drove around Spain without an international or local driving license, when using her own Spanish car.


Local police stopped and apply a ticket of 500 €. She knew a local police officer, she gave a phone call and this ticket was canceled and police officer had to meet her again and apologize about this mistake...


This country sometimes is a joke.

KDaly

I’ve always had a good experience while on road. Signals everywhere! Impossible to get lost! And also lots of roundabouts in smaller roads instead of levelled crossings, but it works!


Road mainteinance depends on the Comunidad Autonoma, so you can pass from a slightly rough road to a very well kept one. Navarra, Basque Country, La Rioja tend to have great roads, while Andalucía, not so much!


Also, as there was no speed limit, people tend to go over the limit (everyone go faster than me, lol) on harvesting season, you can meet a tractor on the Nacional roads.


Most importantly the signs are slightly different form America: the red circle means NO and the red circle with a diagonal line means “end of the prohibition”.  But once you learn them is not that difficult and the work for all EU countries.


In the city… people tend to think they’re still  in their small towns, double parking everywhere to go to the grocery, bank, supermarket… it’s frustrating!