Last week the Spanish government passed new legislation aimed at reducing Spain’s terrible record of traffic accidents and road safety. Here is a summary of the new traffic legislation in Spain based on the new «points» system:

From now on there will be three main categories of drivers:
«Normal» – 12 points
«New drivers» – drivers with less than 3 years experience – 8 points
«Veterans» – drivers who have lost all their points and have got a new licence – 8 points.

How to win back points:
If drivers successfully complete a course of «sensibilización and reeducación» they will be awarded 4 points.
If drivers drive for three years without committing any breach of conduct they will win back all their points.

Points lost for bad driving:

Drivers lose 6 points for:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol (>0,75 mg/l).
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Refusing to undergo breath tests
• Driving in the wrong direction
• Driving in unauthorised races or competitions
• Dangerous driving
• Driving vehicles which are not permitted on motorways
• Speeding over 50% or 30 km over the authorised speed

Drivers lose 4 points for:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol ((0,25-0,75 mg/l)
• Driving a vehicle with too many passengers (50% more than the authorised limit)
• Driving in parallel with other vehicles
• Driving a vehicle with no registration plate
• Driving a vehicle which has not passed its MOT
• Driving irresponsibly
• Speeding (over 40-50 km the limit)
• Failing to respect right of way
• Failing to respect a STOP sign
• Failing to respect overtaking laws
• Changing direction in dangerous situations, such as tunnels, junctions, motorways and roads where overtaking is forbidden.
  

• Reversing on motorways
• Accelerating to prevent other vehicles from overtaking
• Overtaking on bends or when visibility is reduced
• Failure to obey traffic police
• Failure to obey traffic lights.
  

Drivers lose 3 points for:

• Speeding
• Not respecting distances with vehicles in front
• Driving without lights
• Driving with lights which dazzle other drivers
• Driving while using other devices which prevent the driver from paying full attention to driving (eg mobile telephones)
• Stopping or parking in bends, areas with reduced visibility, tunnels, junctions, dangerous areas or areas which present other drivers with difficulties

Drivers lose 2 points for:

• Stopping or parking in: places which make it more difficult for other vehicles to turn; urban areas where lack of visibility represents danger; tram lines; places which make it difficult for other drivers to see road signs; lanes reserved for public transport
• Driving vehicles which have mechanisms installed aimed at avoiding police controls
• Not obeying rules of overtaking other vehicles (even if other drivers are not put at risk)
• Changing direction or reversing against traffic rules
• Driving without wearing seatbelts, helmets or other compulsory protective devices (driver or passengers),
• Riding motorbikes with underage passengers (12 years) without permission

For practical advice on traffic norms and customs in Spain see:
Driving in Spain and Roads in Spain