Spanish Driving Theory: Use of Public Roads
Using Public Roads in Spain: Rules for the DGT Theory Test
Learn how public roads are used in Spain and the rules that drivers, pedestrians and other road users must follow. This lesson explains the key Spanish traffic rules you need to understand for the DGT theory test, with clear English explanations, visual examples and audio
Roads are used by drivers, pedestrians and animals. All users have rights, obligations, and prohibitions. And they all need to follow these rules:
Do not bother other users: You have to obey the rules and be respectful with the rest of users. Though your vehicle is yours, the road is not
Do not be surprising: You share the roads with more users so, you have to be sure not to endanger others when carrying out maneuvers
Warn others about your movements: By signaling with lights in order to inform the rest of users in advance. Indicating a maneuver doesn’t give you the right of carrying it out
Be understanding to others: Accepting their apollogies when they make mistakes
It’s forbidden to set fires or pollute public roads, wash vehicles or throw trash. You can’t obstruct traffic when parking or stopping
It is not allowed to modify the signalization in a way that may lead users to misunderstand it
In case of falling loads, you must remove them as soon as possible while protecting the area
Speed bumps are not considered obstacles as they ensure the safety of users such as pedestrians and cyclists
OBLIGATIONS
You have to be in perfect conditions to control your vehicle or animals (alcohol, fatige…) Especially when you run into children, elderly or handicapped people
You have to collaborate with the authorities to check noise and pollutants of your vehicle
You have to drive carefully to avoid accidents and damages. Reckless driving is a crime
You need to have free movements and visibility when driving. People, animals and loads must be transported properly. You can’t watch movies nor surf the internet while driving. GPS devices are allowed without touching the screen
You have to switch off engine, lights, radio and mobile phone when filling up the tank at gas stations
All registration plate numbers must be visible and legible. Drivers are responsible for this matter
PROHIBITIONS
You can’t wear earphones or bluetooth devices into your ears, except when learners are practicing and taking the driving exams for motorcycles
You can’t handle phones or GPS devices. It is also forbidden to carry the phone between your ear and helmet. Only hands-free kits are allowed when driving, including crash helmets with built-in speakers and bluetooth connection
You can’t install radar detectors or inhibiting devices
Owner: Person in charge of everything related to documentation and preventing people without licence from driving the vehicle on public roads. The owner has to identify the offender driver when, after an offence, the authorities can’t determine the identity
Usual driver: Person that usually drives the vehicle with the previous owner’s authorization
PARTS OF THE ROADS
Roadway platform: Includes carriageway and shoulder
Carriageway: Part of the road for traffic in general
Lane: Division of the carriageway. In case of lack of road markings, there will be as many lanes as automobiles (no motorcycles) can go side by side
Shoulder: Forbidden to drive, except non-powered driven vehicles or emergency situations. There is no difference whether it has broken or straight line
Verge: Unpaved part of the road where side barriers and signposts are placed
Central reservation: Part not for traffic to separate two carriageways. They are required for motorways and dual carriageways
Exit slip ramp: Join it at the beginning. It helps you slow down without hindering traffic on the main road
Ditch: Part close to the road to drain water
Service road: Access to join properties adjacent to the road
Acceleration lane: You need to adapt the speed at the end of it, according to the situation
Gradient change/Brow of a hill/Crest: It is an inclination on the road. In the event of lack of visibility, you can’t invade the oncoming lane. This rule is also at bends/curves without visibility
Roundabout: Drive around a central island. You have to leave them from the right lane
Split roundabout/Racket: Compulsory to join it when turning left. In the event of U-turns, either way is correct
Pedestrian area: Part of the road delimited and reserved for pedestrians, including sidewalks and footpaths. Bicycles can be riden by underaged up to 12 years old and accompanied by an adult pedestrian
Traffic island: Area delimited in the carriageway to channelize traffic at junctions
Refuge: Pedestrian area placed in the carriageway and protected from the traffic
Types of highways(roads)
Urban road: Inside town, except through roads
Through road: Stretch of a road crossing a town
Interurban/Inter-city road: Out of town
Motorway
Junctions at different levels. Two carriageways divided by a central reservation
No access to properties, so it’s necessary a service road to access to properties adjacent to the main road
Dual carriageway
Junctions at different levels. Two carriageways divided by a central reservation
There may be direct access to properties
Urban motorways and dual carriageways
Same rules as the ones out of town
Multi-lane roads
Neither motorway nor dual carriageway, but it has 2 lanes for each direction with central reservation or road markings and the possibility of junctions at the same level
2 + 1 road
Road with 3 lanes, one for each direction and a central one to overtake, open for one of the directions separated by barriers or beacons
Highways reserved for automobiles
A single carriageway without access to properties
Conventional roads
Rest of roads with no sign to identify them (no restrictions)
Routes for Bicycles
Road reserved for bicycles with signs and road markings
Bicycle lane: Delimited by road markings. Cyclists will preferably use these lanes. But it is required for them when it is indicated by the sign “Path obligatory and reserved for cycles” (Round and blue)
Protected bicycle lane: Separated from normal traffic
Bicycle lane in sidewalk
Off-road bicycle lane
Cycle and pedestrian path: For cycles, pedestrians, and PMV. Out of traffic, usually, in parks and gardens
USE OF MOTORWAYS AND DUAL CARRIAGEWAYS
These roads can be used by automobiles enable to reach, at least, 60 Km/h on flat ground. Also, oversized special vehicles with authorization and non-oversized special vehicles when they are enable to reach more than 60 Km/h on flat ground
The following users are forbidden on these roads:
ANIMALS & ANIMAL-DRAWN VEHICLES
MOPEDS AND REDUCED MOBILITY VEHICLES
PEDESTRIANS
PERSONAL MOBILITY VEHICLES
CYCLES, EXCEPT ON DUAL CARRIAGEWAYS
REQUIREMENTS:
Without leaving hard shoulder
When cyclists are 14 years old, at least
When the circulation is difficult due to snow, vehicles must drive along the right-hand lane and it is forbidden to overtake. In case of three lanes, the central lane can also be used. So, drivers must always leave the left-hand lane free for the passing of snowplough trucks
In case of traffic congestion or very slow circulation (at a walking person pace) drivers must pull over the sides to leave a so-called “Emergency lane” for the passing of the assitance vehicles. In case of three lanes, the “Emergency lane” will be between the left-hand lane and the closest one
GENERAL RULES FOR VEHICLES
Carriageway: All automobiles and special vehicles above 3,500Kg of MAM. At bends and gradients without visibility you must drive as close to the right as possible
On TWO-WAY carriageways (roads with oncoming traffic lane)
TWO LANES
Right lane, especially with lack of visibility
Left lane (contrary): Only to overtake when it is safe
THREE LANES (with broken lines)
Right lane: To drive, right turns and U-Turns
Central lane (when it is empty): Left turns and to overtake
Left lane: NEVER
On ONE-WAY carriageways (no oncoming traffic lane)
OUT OF TOWN and URBAN MOTORWAYS/DUAL
TWO LANES in the same direction
Right one to drive. Left one when necessary to overtake without hindering other vehicles behind
THREE OR MORE
Right one to drive. The other ones when necessary to overtake
The following vehicles can only drive in the right-hand lane and the closest one when necessary to overtake:
Lorries, vans and special vehicles more than 3500Kg
Vehicle combinations more than 7m long
IN TOWN/BUILT-UP AREAS
Without road markings: Right lane to drive / Left one: To overtake and left turns
With road markings: Lane most convenient for your destination
More rules inside town
Cyclists and Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMV) will ride along the middle of the lane and motor vehicles must keep, at least, 5 meters of front distance with them. When there are two lanes in the same direction, these vehicles will travel along the right-hand lane. They may use the left one to make turns or for safety reasons
The authorities may permit bicycles and PMV to ride in either direction when it comes to one-way streets with a speed limit of 30 Km/h or below. In these cases, vehicles must drive close to the right side to come across these users. In case of narrow streets, vehicles driving in the right direction will have right of way
Bicycles and Personal Mobility Vehicles are forbidden along sidewalks. But, when properly indicated, they can use the rest of pedestrian areas
Cycles can also tow trailers and semi-trailers to transport people, animals up to 15 Kg or loads when the rider is an adult. They can also go this way on interurban roads, but only at daytime and plenty of visibility
The authorities should avoid the following situation: A green traffic light for pedestrians together with a flashing yellow traffic light for vehicles to prevent accidents
They must also establish safe scholar ways or routes for children to walk or ride bicycles to schools. And, they can also regulate parking areas with fees. Vehicles will be seized when they don’t display the payment ticket or they exceed the paid time multiplied by three times
Traffic island: To channelize traffic. Forbidden to drive, park and stop
On two-way roads: You must drive on the right side
On one-way roads: You may drive either on the right or left
On roads with three carriageways, the ones on the sides are one-way, but you may find contraflow lanes. However, the central one can be one or two-way road according to the signs
There are some lanes that don’t count as normal lanes such as:
Reserved for certain vehicles: Bus, bicycle…
Reserved for certain maneuvres: Acceleration, waiting lanes…
LANES ACCORDING TO THE SPEED
In this situation, the central lane can be only used by vehicles going at 60 km/h or above to overtake
But you must drive in the right lane as general rule
The obligatory speed ends when the lane ends or you observe the “end of obligatory minimum speed”. These lanes are taken into account when it comes to using the road
LANES RESERVED FOR BUSES
CONTINUOUS LINE: You can cross it to leave this lane. Never to join it
BROKEN LINE: You can join it to make turns
PROHIBITIONS: Driving, stop, park, overtaking and U-Turns
LANES FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES
HOV LANE (VAO) – HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLES
They can be used by vehicles for only transporting people up to 3500 Kg of MAM
MOTORCYCLES and 3-WHEELED VEHICLES
SEDANS (WITHOUT TRAILERS)
DUAL-PURPOSE VEHICLES (WITHOUT TRAILERS)
These vehicles need to be occupied by the number of occupants indicated on the panels. But, there is an exception for drivers to go alone:
HANDICAPPED DRIVERS (V-15 badge)
ONLY when indicated on the PANELS
Administrative vehicles on emergency calls
Buses may also use these lanes when the driver goes alone and it is properly established -> BUS-VAO
The maximum speed in these lanes is the same as the one of the road where it is placed
It is not compulsory to drive with dipped headlights on
FORBIDDEN -> Vans, lorries, vehicles towing trailers, mopeds, pedestrians…
LANES FOR CERTAIN MANEUVRES
ACCELERATION LANES : To join roads adapting the speed at the end of them
DECELERATION LANES / EXIT RAMPS: To leave roads. You have to join them from the beginning to slow down
INTERTWINED LANES: To join and leave roads. It is important to show indicators in advance
WAITING LANES: To turn left without obstructing traffic on the main road
LANES TO IMPROVE FLOW OF TRAFFIC
REVERSIBLE LANE
Square traffic lights and double broken lines on both sides
Dipped headlights are always compulsory
All vehicles are allowed to use this lane
Maximum speed -> The one of the road
Forbidden to invade the lane on the left
ADDITIONAL
On two-way roads with shoulders, a new lane is added by using the hard shoulders
Dipped headlights always on (ALL VEHICLES)
Speed 60-80 Kph (ALL VEHICLES)
Forbidden to pass through the cones or beacons
ENABLE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION / CONTRAFLOW LANE
When this lane is open due to fluidity reasons, only sedans (no trailer) and motorcycles
When this lane is open due to road works, all vehicles on the road are allowed
Dipped headlights are compulsory in the lanes on either side of the cones
The speed in the contraflow lane: 60-80 Km/h
The speed in the lane in the normal direction-> 60-80 Km/h. But, when there are 2 or more lanes left in the normal direction, the speed is the generic of the road
VEHICLES IN HARD SHOULDER
When there is not a path for them, the following vehicles will go along the right hard shoulder -> Special vehicles up to 3,500Kg, non-powered driven vehicles and vehicles following cyclists. If there is no hard shoulder, they willl drive in the carriageway close to the right side
When driving automobiles up to 3,500 of MAM at abnormally low speed due to emergency, you will join it ONLY if you are hindering traffic in your lane
Also when driving on roads with additional lane and when giving way to administrative vehicles: Ambulance…
Only when properly indicated and traffic is stuck, motorcycles can go along hard shoulder at 30 Km/h at most and giving priority to the vehicles using hard shoulder
This can be done by road assistance and maintenance vehicles when they display the V-2 rotating light at 30 Km/h at most
Only bicycles can go side by side, but they must go in line in stretches with low visibility, when they disturb traffic seriously, and at night or adverse weather conditions
To overtake, these vehicles (except bicycles) can’t spend more than 15 seconds or 200 metres driving side by side
FRONT DISTANCE
Drivers must always keep a distance which allows them not to collide with vehicles ahead if they brake suddenly
There is an exception: Bicycles don’t need to keep this distance among them
This distance must be kept in the following cases:
Anywhere overtaking is forbidden, you must always keep safety front distance
Anywhere inside town, you must always keep safety front distance with or without intention to overtake
Out of town with 2 or more lanes for your direction, you must always keep safety front distance with or without intention to overtake
On two-way roads with 2 lanes out of town with intention to overtake, you must always keep safety front distance
In heavy traffic, you must always keep safety front distance
On two-way roads with 2 lanes out of town without intention to overtake, you must always keep safety front distance and the one that allows vehicles behind to overtake you
ON TWO-WAY INTERURBAN ROADS
50 m (without intention to overtake) for the following vehicles:
All vehicles more than 3500 Kg of MAM
All vehicles more than 10 meters long
IN TUNNELS & UNDERPASSES
With intention to overtake, you must always keep safety front distance
No intention to overtake:
Minimum: 100 meters or 4 seconds
Vehicles above 3500 of MAM: 150 meters or 6 seconds
DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC
Going faster than other lanes is not overtaking. You must drive keeping safety distance at the speed of your lane
FORBIDDEN: Change lanes except to leave the road or make turns. You can’t use hard shoulder to take a close exit
Authorities may ban some vehicles in certain special traffic days such as summer holidays, easter, christmas…
CONDITIONS OF TRAFFIC: COLORS CODE
Traffic is fluid
Weather conditions are good
Traffic is slower than usual. Advisable not to go above 100 on motorways and 80 on conventional roads
Weather conditions don’t affect traffic, but you must maximize caution. Heavy trucks can’t overtake
Slow traffic with some stops
There is snow on the road. Forbidden for trucks and vehicles with semi-trailers. Maximum speed is 60 Km/h for sedans, buses…
Very slow traffic. Long and frequent stops
Road totally covered by snow. Banned for large vehicles. Snow chains or winter tyres are compulsory. Maximum speed -> 30 Km/h
Road closed
Traffic is banned for all vehicles
PEDESTRIANS
Definition: Person who is walking or on a wheelchair. Also, when they push strollers or any other vehicle with wheels and no engine, including pushing bicycles and mopeds, but not motorcycles
Without pedestrian area, people should walk in the hard shoulder or carriageway
Pedestrians must walk on their left (on any type of road). Except when the right side is safer
Pedestrians must always walk on the right when it comes to groups of people led by a person or people pushing cycles, mopeds, and Personal Mobility Vehicles. They must obey traffic lights and officers
Forbidden to walk side by side in hard shoulders or carriageways
They must use zebra crossings this way:
With traffic lights, they have to obey their lights
Without traffic lights, they have right of way. But, before crossing, they have to make sure it is going to be safe
Without pedestrian crossing, they can cross in safe places (visibility) and perpendicular to the road
They must walk around roundabouts
As a general rule, pedestrians can’t walk on motorways and dual carriageways, except road maintenance workers or emergency services
You can’t pick up hitchhikers at toll gates on motorways or dual carriageways
People on skateboards can never be dragged by other vehicles
They must wear reflective clothes or a flashlight visible from 150m out of town with lack of visibility (night, fog…)
When in group, they must display white or yellow light at the front and red light at the back
ANIMALS
They must lead animals using livestock paths
Without those paths, they will use the right half of the road. They should go on roads with little traffic driven by someone above 18 years old
They can only cross at properly signposted pet crossings
PROHIBITIONS FOR ANIMALS
They can only go in town (out of pedestrian areas) and conventional roads. Owners can never leave animals without custody on public roads nor racing with animals
When poor visibility: White or yellow light in front and red light at the rear of the group, including animal-drawn vehicles