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Driving a left-hand drive car can sometimes be disconcerting as everying needs to be done with the opposite hands. Reversing is the hardest as it is usual for drivers to look over the wrong shoulder! Driving on the right when you are not used to it means you should probably be extra vigilant driving off after parking on the wrong side of the road or when joining a road from a single track road i.e. after any action where you have lost that "driving on the right" thinking.
Some useful Spanish that you may see on road signs:-
- Peligro - Danger
- Obras - (Road) Works
- Direccion Unica - One Way
- Cuidado - (Drive with) Care
- Ceda el Paso - Give Way
- Aparcamiento - Parking
- Gasolina Sin Plomo - Unleaded Petrol
There are certain items that you should have in your car whilst driving in Spain.
- Two reflective triangles to use as a warning if broken down.
- Reflective jacket to be worn if you get out of your car on the hard shoulder of a motorway.
- Spare light bulbs and fuses along with the tools to change them.
- An Insurance Accident Report form, to be filled in if involved in an accident.
- Cars rented in Spain do not require a reflective jacket!
Seat belts are compulsory for front and rear passengers.
Speed limits are generally 50KPH in built up areas but may be 40 or as low as 20 in residential areas or near a school.
Otherwise speed limits are generally 90KPH on two way roads and 100 or 120KPH on dual carriageways and motorways.
Roads also tend to have speed limits for bends and advisory speed limits if it is raining (lluvia). In an area where it does not rain very often, it can be surprisingly slippery when it rains.
Toll roads - some motorways in Spain are toll roads but signs directing you towards them will clearly indicate this with the word "Toll".
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