HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

The Spanish Government has approved changes to traffic laws that include new safety measures to help reduce road deaths and harsher penalties, especially for drivers who are caught with a mobile phone in their hands.

During the briefing made to the Council of Ministers, government spokesperson Maria Jesus Montero, said that the main changes will be to the roadside assistance rules and the current points system on driving licences, which have been in place since 2005.

Unlike the UK where points are gained when a traffic offence has been committed, Spanish drivers start with 12 points when they pass their test (increases to 15 over time) and lose them as punishment for driving offences, along with a fine.

According to the DGT Traffic Authority, the changes are expected to come into effect before the end of 2021.

Here are the main changes to look out for:

• Loss of points for holding a mobile phone whilst driving: 6 points (previously 3 points) and a fine of 200 euro. Using a mobile phone hands-free will lead to a loss of 3 points.
• Not using a seatbelt, a car seat, a helmet or other protection, or not using them in the correct way: 4 points (Up from 3).
• Overtaking: Cars and motorbikes are no longer allowed to travel at 20km/h over the speed limit, when overtaking another vehicle on conventional roads.
• Use of radar detectors: 3 points.
• You have two years to reinstate the original 12 points if no further offences are committed and not all points have been lost.
• Two points can be recovered by completing the DGT-certified safe driving courses.
• Using unauthorised intercommunication devices during driving exams: Six-month ban from taking the exam again and a 500 euro fine.
• Emergency triangles will be replaced by the V-16 beacons: The siren-like V16 emergency beacon light can be placed on top of the vehicle without getting out of it. The beacons will be authorised from July 1, 2021, and will gradually phase out the emergency triangle between then and January 1, 2026. According to a government spokesperson, between 2014 and 2019, 22 people died on Spanish roads while placing their triangles in the road.
• Transport companies: Will be allowed to access their staff’s details to check that they have a valid driving licence.

The DGT said that all of these new measures and changes are part of a strategy to halve the number of deaths and serious injuries in road accidents by 2030.

Source

https://murciatoday.com/six-points-as-well-as-a-fine-if-caught-driving-whilst-holding-a-mobile-phone-in-spain_1570814-a.html
https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2021/03/17/dgt-plans-changes-to-spains-highway-code-this-year/