Live News From Spain As It Happens

robin1 said:
Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 9:18 AM

It is one of my biggest bugbears that virtually no Spanish driver signals his intention on a roundabout, so you are left waiting when you could have pulled out when they go off at a previous exit, or think they are going to exit and they carry on towards you!

anthomo16 said:
Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 9:32 AM

This is hilarious no spanish driver uses their indicators but God forbid that you don't then you have horns and fingers thrashed at you.
Would love to see that 200 euro fine actually being issued.

Dave11 said:
Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 10:07 AM

I've been driving in the uk for 20+ years and iI would say it's as bad in the uk as in Spain... bad drivers are everywhere. If you think Spain is bad you should try driving in India and Mexico or even New York., city, your view of Spanish drivers may then change...

nat-lads-dad said:
Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 10:33 AM

If you feel it is necessary to indicate when pulling out to overtake or return to the near side after overtaking, then that manoeuvre perhaps should not be made. There should be no reason necessary, or any benefit to a driver behind to let them know you are about to overtake a vehicle in front of you, unless they are in the process of overtaking you. Junctions and roundabouts is another matter.

On the driving courses I have done I was always instructed to inducate for a reason, not out of habit.

DJF42 said:
Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 12:01 PM

nat-lads-dad I have to agree with you. I to have taken advanced driving courses and, yes, if you are in busy traffic, indicate then count four flashes of light before maneuvering. As for indicating to go back in, where else are you going to go?
A lot of the reason for drivers not indicating in Spain is also down to their air conditioning system, left arm out of the window, where is the indicator stalk on most modern cars?
Here on Lanzarote, where rotundas haven't been for many years, they indicate right, to enter the rotunda!
Heaven help you if you think they are taking the first exit.
Then there is a rule that states that those in the right hand/outside lane on two or more lane rotundas have right of way, so they all stay in that lane no matter where they are exiting . I keep to the rule, have the biggest safety bubble as possible around you.

watchmanager said:
Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 12:01 PM

Nat-lads-dad.
As a retired driving instructor and Examiner this is my take on it.
It is the law. When you are about to overtake or change direction, you single your intentions, not just for the vehicle behind but for the one you are about to overtake or to pass an obstruction, the vehicle behind may not be aware of or even seen. In effect saying to the one behind I'm pulling out you may not see what's in front of me so be ready to move out yourself. To the one in front, I'm going to pass you so don't pull out!
Remember, even if they indicate it is only an indication that they MIGHT be pulling out or turning. Until you see their vehicle start to move in the direction they indicate then treat them as going straight on.
This is a good move for Spain. If they start to penalise ghe then it may catch on.
No, the UK on the whole is quite good.

nat-lads-dad said:
Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 4:34 PM

Which law are you quoting Watchmanager?

There is no specific law I know of other than driving without reasonable consideration to other road users.

Generally you shouldn’t indicate to move out to pass an obstruction on your near side as this may cause the driver behind to think you are turning and cause that driver to collide with the near side obstruction.

The correct procedure should be to move out early so that the vehicle behind can see the obstruction.

watchmanager said:
Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 6:13 PM

Just to clarify, your initial statement is technically correct, but not the 'generally ' one. However, just because it is not technically a law you can still be charged and fined for not using them.
This is where the offence of ‘Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users’ covers many forms of bad driving. If a driver is too lazy to indicate and their lack of actions is a direct result of an accident, they may face a charge of careless driving.
Something else to consider, the law clearly states that prior to driving solo you must hold a full licence. I can assure you that if you did not indicate correctly during your driving test then you would never in law be allowed to drive solo, because you would never pass.
A general rule I used was that if you could move over without crossing or straddling the centre of the road it would be fine not to indicate. Other examiners have failed them because they state you should indicate if you intend to turn or change course.
I can only lead you to water. Unfortunately this ambiguity is what enrages the debate.
Let's face it, indicators are there for a purpose. In law they have to be! Why on earth not use them?

nat-lads-dad said:
Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 11:14 PM

So we agree the article should be clarified, “failure to use indicators when overtaking, turning, entering or leaving a junction or lane puts other road users in danger – and is an offence which attracts a fine of €200.”

Only if failure to use indicators puts other road users in danger is an offence committed.

If there is no other traffic on the road or as I have previously stated indicators need not be used.

watchmanager said:
Sunday, October 21, 2018 @ 9:34 AM

Sorry Nat-lads-dad.
I wasn't going to respond further but you can't cherry pick part of a statement and come up with making it read that its only an offence if not using them would put other road users at risk.

Read it again. She is clearly stating that not to indicate WOULD put others at risk! Thereby an offence at all times.
The statement reads :- Chairwoman of the motorways safety centre Cristina Zamorano warns that failure to use indicators when overtaking, turning, entering or leaving a junction or lane puts other road users in danger – and is an offence which attracts a fine of €200.
You also initially disagreed with my first comment on this post that it is Law. You say you don't know of any law. You seem to be getting the two countries mixed up. They're telling you its Spanish law now like seatbelts etc but UK law it is technically not. As you're in Spain I would go with their interpretation and save 200€.

nat-lads-dad said:
Sunday, October 21, 2018 @ 11:44 AM

Sorry, we will have to agree to disagree.

Plainly if there is no other car on the road, then making a turn without indicating can not put anyone at risk if there is nobody there.

I’m sure something has been lost in translation.


I repeat, indicate for a reason not out of habit.

watchmanager said:
Sunday, October 21, 2018 @ 12:04 PM

That's fine!
If there's nobody there to see you then it's a non argument. Unless there's a Spanish Police car hidden out of sight.