Basic Driving Rules in Spain: How to Survive Roundabouts and Avoid Tickets and Accidents.

Driving in Spain can be a lot like running the gauntlet or if you are having a good day, playing a game: part strategy, part luck, and a little bit of "Wait, what just happened?" Whether you're navigating the motorway or figuring out how roundabouts work without losing your mind or your front wing, Spanish roads offer an adventure. So buckle up—here’s your guide to staying on the right side of Spanish traffic laws and keeping your sanity, even if you’re a British driver trying to exit in the left lane (spoiler alert: you can’t).

Driving Basics: Spain vs. The World

Let’s start with the basics: in Spain, you drive on the right-hand side of the road. Yes, the right side. If you’re British, Australian, or from any other country that enjoys doing the opposite, this might feel like some kind of continental conspiracy. But trust me, after the first 10 minutes of shouting “WRONG SIDE!” to no one in particular, you’ll get used to it.

And don’t even think about driving without your seat belt or using your phone while driving (unless it’s for taking a selfie with the stunning view..joke...don´t do that! FYI you can´t eat, drink or smoke either, and especially not throw your cigarette butts out of the window). Spain takes road safety seriously—no selfies, no calls, no snacks, just eyes on the road. You must also keep your arms,elbows, hands and other extemities INSIDE the car at all times. The only kind of navigating app you’ll need is one that can decode roundabout etiquette for you.

Roundabouts: Where British Drivers Panic

Ah, roundabouts—Spain's answer to your GPS saying “recalculating” a little too often. For anyone not familiar, these circular wonders can feel like an endless loop of indecision. And if you’re British, you might instinctively want to exit the roundabout from the left lane. I hate to break it to you, but that’s illegal here. You can’t just swerve left as if you’re in the middle of a driving experiment.

Here’s how it actually works:

1.     Entering the Roundabout: Cars inside the roundabout have the right of way. Always. Think of it like a Spanish queue—you wait your turn, no cutting in line! Failure to yield will have you facing the fiery wrath of a thousand honking horns.

2.     Choosing a Lane:

o   If you’re taking the first exit (turning right), stay in the right lane. This seems straightforward, right? (Pun fully intended).

o   Going straight? You can use either lane, but don’t try to be clever by straddling the two lanes as if you’re setting up for a Formula 1 overtake.

o   If you’re taking the third exit or beyond, stay in the left lane until it’s your time to escape… I mean, exit.

And if you're British, remember: exiting from the left lane will make you public enemy number one at the roundabout. You might even end up on the evening news.

3.     Signal Like a Pro: When you’re ready to exit, signal right. No signal? Get ready for some creative hand gestures from other drivers. If you cannot safely move over when you want to, you must go around again, and again and again untill you can exit from the right hand lane.

4.     Pedestrians and Cyclists Rule the Roundabout Kingdom: Spaniards take pedestrian and cyclist rights very seriously. Bikes, as annoying as they can be, are classed as a vehicle and the security distance between you and them is vitally important, especially when you are overtaking them! Pedestrians are not permitted to cross roundabouts, they will have dedicated crossings where they have priority depending on the signals in place.

Speed Limits: How Fast Can You Go Before You’re on a First-Name Basis with the Guardia Civil?

Spain has speed limits for a reason—mainly to make sure you don’t treat the motorways like the Nürburgring. Here’s the scoop on speed limits, whether you’re tearing down the autopista or cruising through a sleepy ciudad:

1.     Motorways (Autopistas / Autovias):

o   Maximum speed: Autopista 120 km/h Autovia 100 km/h (75 mph)

o   Minimum speed: 60 km/h (37 mph)

Basically, this is not the place for your Sunday drive in first gear or in the middle lane! . Stay above 60 and stay to the right unless you are overtaking, but don’t get too excited, because…

2.     Main Roads (Vias Interurbanas):

o   Maximum speed: 90-100 km/h (55-62 mph)

o   Minimum speed: 45-50 km/h (28-31 mph).

For those who enjoy the freedom of a rural road, this is where you can experience it. Just don’t get too carried away, or you’ll be dealing with some very unimpressed traffic officers.

3.     City Streets (Ciudades)(Vias Urbanas):

o   Maximum speed: 50 km/h (31 mph) unless the signs say otherwise. In some residential zones, the speed limit has been lowered to 30 km/h (18 mph). This gives you plenty of time to enjoy those narrow, picturesque streets—just without mowing down pedestrians in the process.

4.     Residential Areas: Watch out for streets where the limit drops to 20 km/h (12 mph). Yes, that’s slower than most joggers, but it keeps the neighborhood cats safe.

Speed Cameras: Smile, You’re on Candid Camera!

If you think you can get away with speeding in Spain, think again. Spain is home to more speed cameras than you can shake a stick at. These sneaky devices are often well-hidden, and if you’re not careful, they’ll catch you doing 121 km/h in a 120 km/h zone. Speeding fines in Spain can get pricey, so unless you want to donate your vacation funds to the local government, stick to the limits.

Oh, and there’s also a penalty points system. The points get deducted not added here, so if you lose too many points, it’s bye-bye to your driving license. So play it cool.

Final Thoughts: Keep Calm and Don’t Exitogetic nod if you accidentally cut them off). The trick is to follow the basics: drive on the right, stay within the speed limits, and for the love of tapas, don’t exit roundabouts like you’re still driving in the UK.

Now, go forth and conquer those Spanish roads—roundabouts and all. Just remember, exiting left from a roundabout isn’t a cultural quirk. It’s just wrong.