N332 Magazine - Summer 2023

Welcome to the N332 Magazine

It’s that time of year again… Loved by some, dreaded by others… It’s summer, and in this edition of the N332 magazine we are focussing primarily on the most common problems we see on the roads of Spain during summer, many of which are extremely dangerous, and how to avoid a fine, or worse, by not falling into some of the most common traps.

The roads of Spain are always busy at this time of year, but for the remainder of the season, we have two key dates, the weekend around 15 August, a national holiday, then the end of the month, when holiday traffic starts to return to their homes.

We also clear up some doubts that have presented themselves, and continue to do so, like the erroneous reporting of a fine for throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle, and also about speed limits, which still seems to confuse some people.

We also have great summer advice from our friends at Quironsalud, Torrevieja. It is important to stay healthy all year, but summer brings a new wave of potential problems, as the experts explain.

We have lots of articles to keep you busy reading in this issue, and as always you can get up to date information from the website, n332.es, and follow our partners on Facebook, Ibex Insurance, Coys Rent a Car, and The Leader newspaper.

Until next time, stay safe.

Please don´t copy any part of this publication because it is protected by copyright law.

Copyright © 2023 Mark Nolan

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” to the email address, news@n332.es.

Never Put Your Feet on the Dashboard!

As the temperature rises in summer, so does the number of times we see a potentially dangerous situations, one of which in particular can lead to devastating consequences.

Firstly, and this is for passengers (hopefully), please do not put your feet up on the dashboard (or out the car window)! We have already seen this happening this year. It is dangerous, and it is utterly stupid, which you will understand when you see the results of an impact injury caused by the inflation of an airbag, which can happen at a relatively slow speed. It is illegal, because it is so dangerous.

In the event of a crash, if a passenger is travelling with their feet up on the dashboard, the injuries that may occur will be very serious, partly as the deployment of the airbag can cause more serious injuries than it prevents in this situation, and, irrespective of an airbag being present, the glass from the windscreen can cause serious injury, not to mention the effects of a passenger being crushed by the impact between the dashboard and the seat.

The image accompanying this article is an actual x-ray of such an injury caused by an airbag deploying in a crash whilst the passenger had their feet on the dashboard. Police in Wales released the image of the X-ray to show what they called the woman's "life changing" injuries.

In addition to the increase in occurrences of this sort of behaviour, there is also an increase in the number of fines issues as the traffic police. Incidentally, in the event of a passenger putting their feet on the dashboard, it is the driver who is ultimately responsible for the safety of the vehicle and, as such, it is the driver who will be fined.

Article 18, Section 1 of Royal Decree 1428/2003 of 21 November, approving the Rules of the road, states that “The driver of a vehicle must maintain their own freedom of movement, the required field of vision and permanent attention to driving, to ensure their own safety, that of other vehicle occupants and other road users. To achieve this, you must take special care to maintain the proper position and that of the passengers, and the proper placement of objects or animals transported so that there can be no interference between the driver and any of them“.

Maintaining a proper position in the vehicle is not only important for our comfort, but also crucial for our safety.

Maintain the Correct Position

Although we were specifically talking about putting your feet on the dashboard in the previous article (or out the window in some cases), the regulations extend much further than that.

Article 18, Section 1 of Royal Decree 1428/2003 of 21 November, approving the Rules of the road, states that “The driver of a vehicle must maintain their own freedom of movement, the required field of vision and permanent attention to driving“, which covers a whole multitude of sins (and potential fines).

Keeping both hands on the steering wheel, not leaning with an elbow on the window, keeping your arms inside the vehicle may have been the repetitive messages our driving instructor taught us when we first took lessons, but the advice is still very much key to a safe driving experience.

When used correctly, the vehicle´s seats and features offer the maximum protection in the event of a collision. If we do anything to change the characteristics of these features, we risk our safety tremendously.

Arms and legs should be kept inside the protective shell of the vehicle. Sticking your head, arms or legs out of the window is not a very good idea.

There are countless documented cases of motorists suffering serious injury when “clipped” by a passing car, as well as the more gruesome stories of the loss of limbs in the event of a crash. Having an arm out of the window also poses a risk to other road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists. Being able to put your head out of the window implies that the seatbelt is not worn correctly. If your body parts are not within the safety cage of the vehicle, then you are at risk and are risking others.

Arms extended from the vehicle may also confuse other road users who might think that you are giving hand signals, thus posing a risk that those drivers may incorrectly react to what they think you are gesturing. Visibility may also be obscured as a result, blocking the vehicle´s mirrors and making it difficult to observe the vehicle surroundings correctly.

An arm outstretched to the left actually means you intend to turn left. It is a hand signal which may be used in the event of your indicators not working, for example. Your left arm out the window and at a right angle means you intend to turn right. Extending your arm out of the window with your palm facing backwards means you intend to reverse.

There are other hand signals too, but these main ones, which foreign drivers may not even be aware of, show how a simple move of putting your arm out the window to feel the breeze can be construed as being a hand signal.

Cyclists and VMP (scooter) drivers should also use hand signals correctly.

These rules do not only apply to summer, but all year. The reason we are highlighting the season is because we always see an increase in these types of behaviours, and an increase in the subsequent fines, at this time of year.

The offence of failing to maintain the proper position in the vehicle comes with an 80 euro fine, at any time of year. This can refer to passengers with their feet on the dashboard, drivers with their arms out the window, or any other situation where proper posture is not maintained.

There are many reasons why this rule is important. For example, in the event of impact, the injuries sustained by a person with their feet on the dashboard are nothing less than horrific, as you have hopefully seen in the first of this series and will now think twice before doing it. The same goes for instances where limbs have been lost or severely injured on account of them protruding from the vehicle. Plus, the seats in a vehicle are designed to give maximum protection, and comfort, and not being correctly positions poses a risk, and can hinder visibility by the driver.

The correct wearing of the seat belt is also crucial. Not wearing it over your shoulder and across the torso as it is designed for is the same as not wearing it at all. That is why the fine for wearing a seat belt incorrectly is 200€, the same as if you weren´t wearing it at all.

Seat belts are designed for one purpose only, to save lives. Statistics show that by wearing a seat belt the probability of death when involved in a collision is halved, whereas according to the data from the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) and the Instituto Universitario de Tráfico y Seguridad Vial (INTRAS), the risk of death is cut by a staggering 77% in an overturned vehicle.

However, in order for the seat belt to be effective, it must be worn correctly, in order for it to fulfil the function it is designed for fully.

The correct way to wear the seat belt is for it to go across the torso diagonally, and across the waist, firmly secured in these positions. The top part must be on the hard part of the collarbone, halfway between the shoulder and the neck. The lower end sits against the hardness of the pelvis.

Remember, the seat belt must be snug against the body. Do not pull it away or put it under your arm, as it will not be effective. You not only must wear a seat belt at all times, you must also wear it correctly.

MoreAbout Sitting Down!

The three-point seat belt, which is fitted as standard to most modern vehicles, has an upper (thoracic) and a lower band (pelvic). Both must be snugly fitting against the body. For the seat belt to offer maximum protection it must be on the hard parts of the body, leaning against the collarbone, halfway between the shoulder and neck at the top, and the iliac crest of the pelvis, never on the abdomen.

Accessories such as cushions or other additions should not be used. Once you have pulled the seat belt across your body and secured the strap in the locked position, make sure that the seat belt is not twisted at any point. If it is, undo the seat belt and remove the twists. Once secure, pull the seat belt so that it fits snugly against the body, with any slack being taken back at the top.

If the seat belt is not worn correctly, it can cause further problems in the event of a collision. For example, if the upper band is taken off the shoulder, it can cause a head impact with the windscreen, dashboard or seat in front. It can also produce cervical lesions.

If the belt is not firm around the body it can cause the vehicle to slide under the belt, casing lower body and spinal injuries. This is often referred to as the “submarine effect”. To prevent “submarining”, the vehicle occupants must also sit in a proper position when riding in the vehicle, with the seat belt securely fastened as mentioned, and without having any additions such as pillows or cushions which may contribute to the reduction of effectiveness of the seat belt.

It is also important to remember the one seat belt – one seat rule. All vehicle occupants are obliged to wear a seat belt, both in the front and the back seats. Some vehicles only have two seat belts in the back for example, and so that vehicle can only carry two passengers on that seat.

There are other rules regarding children in cars. Primarily, children under 1.35 metres in height are not allowed to travel in the front seats and they most use an appropriate restraining system for their height and weight.

It is crucial that children are secure, and it is the responsibility of the driver to make sure that they are. Make sure you check the instructions of any child seat you have purchased to ensure it is fitted correctly, and is suitable for your child, as, although there is a standardised scale, each child is different. In Spain, the laws relating to children in cars are not generally based on age, but height and weight.

Last Call for UK Licence Holders

This is a repeat, albeit final, reminder for residents who still have a UK driving licence. In March, an agreement was finally reached for the exchange of United Kingdom issued driving licences held by residents in Spain for the Spanish equivalent, without the need to sit a test, as per the rules following Brexit. A six-month grace period was accepted, and that period ends next month, in September, so if you haven’t done it yet, you really are running out of time, and this is the last opportunity you will have. If you do NOT exchange your UK licence under this agreement, you will NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE IN SPAIN unless you pass both a theory and practical driving test to obtain a Spanish licence.

The temporary agreement established that all valid permits or licences of current residents issued prior to its entry into force may be exchanged, while for permits issued after said entry into force it will be an essential requirement to access the exchange that the permits have been issued in the country where the applicant had legal residence.

With this pact, those British citizens residing in Spain who had not had their driving licence exchanged before Brexit, nor in the successive extensions granted, would be able to do so as of Thursday, March 16. However, a timeline had been put on doing this, as, again, this is just another, albeit final, extension period.

To facilitate administrative processing at the provincial traffic headquarters, a period of six months has been granted during which British citizens can drive in Spain with their original permit while they process the exchange. In other words, you must act NOW to exchange your licence, as this new transition period is to allow for delays caused by the backlog. Do not delay.

In addition, Spain and the United Kingdom undertake to provide each other with information on the data of the vehicles and their owners for the purpose of investigating traffic offences related to road safety, especially in cases of speeding, not wearing a seat belt, failure to stop at a red light, driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence of drugs, not wearing a crash helmet, driving in a prohibited lane, or illegal use of mobile phones.

CARRYINGITEMS

In this series about summer driving dos and don’ts, we have looked at keeping ourselves and our passengers safe in the vehicle, by not doing things like putting our feet on the dashboard, or our arms out of the window, and keeping ourselves secure by wearing a seat belt properly. This week we are going to look deeper at vehicle security, namely in the carrying of items.

Everything we carry in our vehicles must be carried correctly, and by correctly, we mean it must be secured, and it must not protrude from the vehicle. Also, all vehicle doors, which includes the boot, must be securely closed.

The reason we say this is because another common occurrence on the roads at this time of year is vehicles heavily overloaded, not necessarily by weight, but by volume. There are far too many occurrences when cars are going to or from the beach and are filled with all of the paraphernalia for a day in the sun, like the picnic box, towels, of course, and then perhaps a marque, or tent, inflatables, a surfboard, a table and chairs… The list can go on.

If you are driving a vehicle that is carrying a load in the car, you have to make sure that the load is restrained properly. Load restraint is not just about making sure that the load does not come off, it is also about making sure that the load does not shift in a way that makes the vehicle unsafe to handle or allows the load to crash into the driver’s cabin, which may cause injury or death.

The Spanish Traffic Law requires that any load carried on or in your vehicle must: Not be placed in a way that makes your vehicle unstable or unsafe.

Be secured so it won’t move or fall from your vehicle while driving including driving consisting of emergency braking or turning suddenly.

Not project from your vehicle in a way that is likely to injure a person, obstruct the path of other drivers or pedestrians, or damage another vehicle or anything else.

Be restrained using an appropriate load restraint method. Anything on the back seats must be secured with seat belt.

It is advisable that you use the boot, rather than the saloon. In case you need to carry load in the vehicle, use the seat belt to ensure the load, and if you carry heavy things, use a car net, it is forbidden to take heavy load without a load restraint net.

In the case of inflatables, take them uninflated. For the avoidance of doubt, the situation in the image accompanying this article is not permitted.

Half of drivers do not know how their pet should travel

In a report compiled by RACE and Royal Canin, the opinions of drivers regarding carrying pets was revealed, and it showed alarming results, that around half of all drivers do not know how pets should travel.

The risk of having your pet loose

When a car is traveling at a speed of 50 kilometres per hour, the occupants and objects inside the vehicle also move at the same speed in the event of an impact. Thus, in the event of a collision, neither objects, animals nor people change their mass, nor does gravity change their value, so the weight of any of the occupants of a vehicle does not change. When a vehicle brakes abruptly or suffers a collision, the passengers or the elements that travel loose inside it tend to maintain the speed that they were travelling at in the moments before the braking or collision (they do not accelerate but continue at the same speed).

In the case of a frontal collision at about 50 kilometres per hour, pets without restraint may produce high impact loads, exerting forces equivalent to multiplying up to 35 times their weight (which, as we have said, does not vary). This means that a dog weighing 20 kg will have an impact load that will exceed half a ton, which is an additional burden for the passengers of the vehicle and can reduce or cancel the protection of safety systems, such as seats, seat belts, or airbags.

The opinion of the drivers

More and more families incorporate a companion animal into their life. The number of households that have a pet is increasing, and so are the displacements. To find out more about the habits of these users, RACE conducted a survey of 1,400 pet owners. Among the main conclusions, that 47% of the owners believe that the legislation is not clear when it comes to taking animals on the move, which can generate doubts and risks when placing or restraining our pet inside the vehicle. Do not forget that the rules do not specify the system that we must use with our pet, only that it should not interfere with the driver. Three out of four drivers are concerned about taking their pet without restraint because of the danger it may pose to the rest of the occupants.

What restraint systems do you prefer?

Although the options are several, the use of harnesses with a single hook stands out among all, followed by harnesses with double anchorage, and in third place the carriers retained by the vehicle belt. This is followed by the dividing bars / nets and the carriers located in the boot and on the floor between the seats.

Travel and stops

Pet owners do consider the needs of animals when traveling. Or at least for the 57% of drivers who rest in special areas for their pets, allowing them to stretch their legs and drink water safely. One in four only does it on very long trips, and

15% admit that they do not think about the pet when they stop, this situation being indifferent.

Risks during the trip

4% of drivers traveling with a pet recognised that, at the time of making the rest stop, they lost control of the animal, or it escaped, which in 1% caused a dangerous situation (recognised by the owner). It was asked if the respondents had suffered or had witnessed a dog or a cat being run over (in general), the answer was that 12% of drivers had suffered in first person running over animals, and 23% he had witnessed this situation. Even 7% acknowledged having experienced both situations, seeing and running over a dog or a cat.

How do users act in such a situation? Well, 39% notified the authorities of the situation; 21% of those surveyed did nothing, they simply continued their journey, and only 6% stopped to remove the run-over animal from the road.

The risk of being run over

Staying alert at all times to prevent our pet from escaping will be essential to guarantee its safety and that of other road users. This risk is not only due to the fact that our pet can escape from our control while we walk it near our home. It could be chaos that it invades the road at any time while we make the rest stop, when it comes to removing our pet from the vehicle. For this reason, and given the proximity of vehicles that circulate through the rest area, and the proximity of the road, extreme caution must be exercised, opening the vehicle never before having restrained the animal, and proceeding to get off the vehicle with special care.

It is important to remember that the Spanish Penal Code clearly includes, in its article 337, the protection of animals, addressing cases of mistreatment of animals, and punishing with prison sentences (which can vary according to different aggravating factors included in its articles) to those who cause injury or subject animals to exploitation. In addition, in the last reform of the Penal Code an article was included in which it is specified that whoever abandons an animal (…) in conditions in which its life or integrity may be endangered will be punished with a fine of one to six months in prison.

Veterinary advice

In case of displacement, consult your veterinarian about the special conditions that the destination area may have, since you may need to vaccinate your animal or carry an additional health document.

Before a trip, adapt the animal's diet and when the time comes, take its usual food with you to avoid digestive problems.

Prepare "the pet's suitcase", in which you will include the documentation and the daily vaccination record, as well as all the things that you may need in

your new location (drinking trough, feeder, brush, nail clippers, toys, etc.)

Get your pet accustomed from the first months of life to traveling with a restraint system and before removing it from the vehicle, in the case of dogs, always hold it on the leash, keeping an eye on the environment so as not to put the animal or the animal at risk. rest of users

According to the results of the crash tests carried out by RACE, inside the car, the best place to locate the carrier is on the ground, between the front and rear seats, and always avoiding direct sunlight.

Dogs can travel separated from the general cabin by metal nets or bars (never to the floor of the boot) or with an approved harness with double anchorage in the back seat of the car, avoiding in any case that it interferes with the driver.

Make frequent stops when traveling by car with your pet, essential so that they can drink fresh water and go for a walk, as well as relieve themselves (in the case of cats we can let them get out of the carrier inside the car to stretch their legs and drink, if they want it, but only when stopped in a safe place).

During stops, never leave your pet alone inside the vehicle with the windows closed, especially in areas with high temperatures and in the sun. The result can be fatal.

Monitor the condition of the animal at all times, and in the event of any abnormal symptoms, contact a veterinarian.

Remember to clean the carrier before and after each use, avoiding dirt or the presence of fungi as a result of humidity.

In short – Pets must be secured at all times when driving and must in no way be able to interfere with the driver. You also have an obligation to ensure their welfare needs are catered for during the journey.

Completing anAccident Report Form

The European Accident Report Form, or “parte amistoso”, la Declaración Amistosa de Accidente (DAA) in Spanish, is a form you can obtain from insurance companies, and should be completed in the event of a collision on the road.

One of the key benefits of this form is that it is a European recognised document, available in multiple languages, but it set out exactly the same in each, so drivers of different languages can compare and complete the form.

The idea of the form is to make it easier to explain and determine how an incident occurred and to resolve the culpability. It is only valid when there are two or more vehicles involved, something that happens in 85% of incidents.

In addition, it is the document that best informs the insurance company of what happened. Therefore, it is very important to fill out the accident report correctly.

Here are some tips for filling out the accident report form:

1) If another driver involved in the incident does not agree to complete the report, and/or if there are injuries, if alcohol is suspected of being involved, or if a driver does not have a licence or insurance, we must call the police.

Additionally, in the case of being injured, do not forget to apply the so-called PAS behaviour: Protect, Warn and Help.

2) Write in UPPERCASE to facilitate understanding.

3) Fill in all the fields without skimping on information.

4) Draw the sketch in the central space and try to reproduce what happened well. For example, arrows indicating the direction of each vehicle, marking the area of the vehicle where the damage occurred, etc.

5) If in the "circumstances" section none of the 17 matches what happened, explain how it happened in the "observations" section.

6) If you have suffered injuries as a result of the incident, state it in the observations section.

7) Take photographs that can help to understand how the incident happened.

8) You have 7 days to deliver the report to the company.

9) Once the form has been signed, by both parties, nothing can be added to it, so take your time when filling in the part.

10) Give a copy of the form to the other driver and keep one for yourself. Of course, you can complete more than one form, one for each driver, but each form is carbonated and creates two copies automatically.

Remember, the form can be used in case of incidents that cause only material damage, by drivers whose vehicles have at least the mandatory civil liability insurance. In addition, in order to apply it, the damage to the vehicles must have been caused by a direct collision, that is, it cannot be used in cases of multiple collisions or more than one vehicle.

The report cannot be used either in incidents with victims or injuries. In these cases, it is necessary to resort to the authorities (Guardia Civil or Police) to report the incident.

The Flip Flop Question!

We couldn’t get through a series about summer driving dos and don’ts without mention a topic that always rears its ugly head around this time of year, the question of whether you are allowed to drive in flip flops!

To answer this question clearly, let us say should you drive in flip flops? And answer, no, absolutely not, because it can be extremely dangerous, as your foot can easily slip out of the shoe. There are numerous cases of flip flops getting trapped between the pedals of vehicles, sometimes with devastatingly fatal consequences, which could so easily have been avoided by wearing appropriate footwear.

However, that said, if we ask the question, is it illegal to drive in flip flops, then the answer is mostly no.

The reason that this second question leads to an ambiguous answer is that there is no specific law which says you must not drive wearing flip flops. However, there are laws which dictate that as a driver you must always be in full control of the vehicle. If you are wearing inappropriate footwear and are involved in an incident, a collision, or are caught committing an offence, then it can be immediately deduced that you were not in full control of the vehicle, in which case your inappropriate footwear, flip flops for example, can be taken into consideration, and can therefore see you with an additional fine.

When you drive with flip flops if becomes easier to be involved in an incident. When you drive back home from the beach, for example, your flip flops are often wet and have sand on them, therefore you have a high risk of losing your flip flops while driving or when you use your car pedals. With Flip flops you cannot break or accelerate properly, ALL these factors can end in a traffic incident or infraction and in these cases, you can be fined for driving with inappropriate footwear. Wearing appropriate footwear is a must when driving. When you think about the physical process required to make a vehicle go, turn, or stop, all the actions are performed by our hands and feet.

If we consider a driver who is barefoot, for example, there is nothing illegal about this, but controlling the clutch, and even the brakes, can require a lot of pressure, which may prove difficult if a driver is barefoot. Feet can sweat and reduce the traction and wearing of socks or stockings is not ideal either, on account of the pressure needed.

Flip flops and sandals are considered by far the most dangerous of all inappropriate footwear. Shoes which don´t fit securely may fall off when driving and can get in the way of the pedals as we have explained. Equally dangerous is how the foot can slip whilst the shoe remains in contact with the pedal, thus reducing braking time and causing a considerable risk when stopping.

Not Wearing a Top

We also have to touch on another common occurrence regarding clothing, having spoke about flip flops, and whereas we are generally speaking about men, it doesn’t exclude women, the matter of driving topless.

Again, as we explained last week regarding flip flops, the law does not expressly prohibit driving topless, but as the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) explains, it is a very dangerous act and can be dangerous when driving, and therefore, can result in a fine.

The código de circulación, the laws relating to driving, explains in articles 3.1, 17.1 and 18.1 that any action that prevents safe driving for both the driver and the other occupants of the vehicle must be sanctioned. That is why both practices of inappropriate footwear and not wearing a shirt can result in a fine.

According to the DGT, driving without a shirt is dangerous, since it could cause injuries if the seat belt is activated, as the seat belt will be in direct contact with the skin. Driving topless can result in horrific glass injuries in the event of a collision and can even result in sunburn. In addition to making driving difficult, it can be a major mishap for the driver in the event of a breakdown or accident.

This is also reported frequently by the Guardia Civil on their Twitter account, where they point out, “Driving with flip-flops or without a shirt can condition your freedom of movement and affect safety....and do you know that it is punishable?”

The sanction can vary depending on the interpretation of the officer and the risk that they perceive you have put yourself in. If your actions are considered minor, and not very dangerous, you could face a fine of 80 euro, but if the officer considers that the risk being assumed is greater, you can face a fine of up to 200 euro and the withdrawal of three points on the driving licence. In the same way that driving without a shirt can carry a penalty, doing it with flip-flops can have the same result.

Remember also that you must maintain the correct posture when driving, or when travelling as a passenger, which is why, although it may be tempting, as we have explained throughout this series, which you can look back on through previous editions or on the website, putting your arm out of the window, or if a vehicle occupant puts their feet up on the dashboard, which is an extremely stupid thing to do as the injuries in the event of a collision would be catastrophic, not being secure in the vehicle, whether that is you, your passengers, goods, or animals, and not being properly dressed, can all result in a fine.

Risky Riding

Speeding (29.3%), alcohol consumption (17.4%) and drugs (10.2%) are the risk factors that most influence a fatal motorcycle incident.

As well as not wearing the helmet correctly - wearing an inadequate size, not fastening it, or adjusting it correctly -, which causes 6% of deaths in motorcyclists and 29% in moped drivers.

These are the main conclusions of the report 'Roadmap for improving road safety in motorcycle and moped users', prepared by Fundación MAPFRE and the Spanish Road Association (AEC), which analyses 240 deaths in motorcycle and moped accidents and more than 7,000 injuries suffered by 3,200 riders and passengers of these vehicles in accidents that occurred between 2016 and 2019.

95% of the deceased, men.

The research reveals other relevant data: the vast majority of the deceased are men (95%), who lost their lives mainly on weekends.

"This disproportion between the sexes is very striking, it should make us reflect on the driving style", points out Jesús Monclús, director of Prevention and Road Safety at Fundación MAPFRE.

In addition, the majority of fatal accidents occurred due to exits from the road (41.3%), frontal collisions (16.8%), typical of intersections, and falls (15%). Safety equipment.

Regarding safety equipment, the study shows that 4 out of 10 motorcyclists involved in serious accidents (41%) did not use safety equipment, with the exception of the helmet, used by 95% of motorcyclists and by 87% of deceased moped riders. Furthermore, 98% did not wear any reflective clothing.

The use of other protective elements -airbags, jackets with protection, gloves and special boots ...- are more common on the road (71%) than in the city, where only 25% of the deceased used them.

Other vehicles involved

The investigation also indicates that in more than half (52%) of the fatal accidents there were no other vehicles involved. And when there was, the accident occurred mainly because their drivers did not respect the priority (21% of the cases), or suffered some distraction or did not see the motorcyclist (10%).

More research, training, awareness and equipment

The report also includes the proposal to create work groups to investigate accidents, which analyse each fatal accident and draw up recommendations to prevent this type of event from being repeated, "as has been done for years in other countries safer than Spain, like Sweden".

It also emphasises the need to improve the training of all riders, including those who start to drive small-cylinder motorcycles with their car licence (class B), and of professional motorcyclists, especially delivery drivers: "They should receive safe driving courses, in particular to improve cornering and intersection driving, and emergency braking."

The study also raises the need for more practical training for all drivers, through specific awareness sessions, risk perception, safe decision-making and the need to share the road, which are moderated by victims of traffic accidents.

And finally, it emphasises the need to promote protective equipment to better protect the parts of the body most affected in accidents (spine, hands and feet); to incorporate more safety technology as standard in all motorcycles and mopeds, such as the emergency call system and ABS; and to improve the roads with protective barriers, which are compatible with the safety of these drivers and which avoid frequent tragic situations such as the amputation of lower limbs.

More incidents in the city, more mortality on the road

The Fundación MAPFRE report on the accident rate of motorcyclists highlights that the number of deaths on motorcycles and mopeds has decreased less and has even increased compared to the number of car occupants in recent years.

The research highlights that the fatal accident rate of motorcyclists increased in 2019 by 16% compared to the previous year and that motorcycle drivers now represented 20% of all deaths, despite the fact that motorcycles are only 10% of the total fleet or that only 4% of the permits are for motorcycles.

"It is very striking that one in four deaths in Spain is a motorcyclist. This did not happen 10 years ago, when the percentage was approximately 20%," said Jesús Monclús, Director of Prevention and Road Safety at Fundación MAPFRE, who also insisted that "we cannot criminalise motorcyclists: A kilometre on a motorcycle is 17 times more dangerous than in a car with respect to fatal injuries. Therefore, on a motorcycle we should be 17 times more protected."

Throwing Cigarettes from Vehicles – The Truth!

You may have read or heard in some English language medias that the DGT are clamping down on those who throw cigarettes from their vehicles.

This is an ongoing problem, and causes a lot of potentially deadly consequences, and so it is something which can result in a fine. The same applies for throwing anything from a vehicle incidentally.

However, in one English language publication, then amplified by others who simply repeat and copy stories without checking, they state that the fine is 200 euro and the loss of 4 points from the dicing licence. This is NOT TRUE.

The law was changed early in 2022, and the actual fine is 500 euro, and the loss of 6 points.

The penalty can be much higher, as can the consequences, and so although we applaud any warnings not to carry out this potentially deadly and catastrophic action, we also feel that the information must be correct.

You can find the full details of the change in the law on the DGT website, which one of the articles actually links to and still they got it wrong, presumably because they simply didn´t check.

About Smoking and Driving

Distractions whilst driving are one of the main contributing factors to road traffic incidents.

Smoking when driving, according to the DGT, is one of the most frequent distractions behind the wheel, and it can be just as dangerous (or more so) as using a mobile device while driving. So, although in most circumstances it is not prohibited, at least not yet, the authorities directly advise users not to carry out this practice in the vehicle.

Distractions at the wheel according to the DGT

To avoid getting distracted at the wheel, the DGT advise us to sleep well before the trip, consume no alcohol, other drugs, or certain medications that can cause dizziness and drowsiness, have light food, if any, and program the GPS or radio before starting to drive. During the journey, do not smoke, stop to rest from time to time, only use your mobile phone in an emergency, and then only when the vehicle is stopped in a safe, and legal place.

Risks of smoking in the car

As we have mentioned, currently, under most circumstances, smoking while driving is not prohibited, but the DGT puts this bad habit on the same level as the use of the telephone while driving.

Specifically, smoking while driving can multiply the risk of having an incident by

1.5 times. According to various studies, lighting a cigarette while driving involves an average distraction of 4 seconds. During this time and at a speed of 110 km/h, it is possible to cover 120 metres without any control over what we do, with hands occupied and with attention and gaze diverted from the objective, driving.

The DGT recommends stopping to smoke

There is also a risk that you might drop a lit cigarette inside the car, on your legs or on the seat. Since, the scare of suddenly seeing incandescent ash on the body has caused serious trouble to more than one driver. Therefore, a swerve or a mistake inside the vehicle can cause a serious incident and put the safety of other drivers at risk.

Penalty of 100 euro for distracted driving

If you are distracted by smoking, you can face a fine of 100 euro. So, although smoking itself is not prohibited, the actions to carry out the task can be.

Fine for throwing cigarette butts out the car window

As we mentioned, due to a change to the Traffic and Road Safety Law in March 2022, throwing cigarette butts or other objects that may pose some kind of danger to other road users is considered a very severe offence. Consequently, you will be sanctioned with a fine of 500 euro and the loss of six points on your driving licence.

Smoking prohibited with children and pregnant women

We mentioned that smoking is not prohibited in most circumstances, but the Spanish Ministry of Health is working on a project that would prohibit smoking in the car when children or pregnant women travel. This idea, which is framed in the Comprehensive Plan for the Prevention and Control of Smoking 2021-2025, aims to increase the number of smoke-free spaces in the country. And within these new areas private vehicles would be included. Some people say that this plan does not go far enough, and that smoking should be banned in all private vehicles. We will of course have to wait for the results of the inevitable debates to see the final outcome.

The DGT warns against possible scams to obtain a drivinglicence

The DGT has issued a warning about potential scams to obtain a driving licence, pointing out that it is essential to pass an exam to obtain a driving licence in Spain, except in some cases where an exchange agreement is in place.

Non-EU foreigners must exchange their licence, if they already have one, for a Spanish one if they are citizens of countries with which there is an exchange agreement. If there is no exchange agreement with the country of origin, it is mandatory to pass a theoretical and a practical exam.

For UK nationals, who now fall into the non-EU category, there is still a very short-term agreement in place for the exchange of some licences, as mentioned in previous pages.

Given the proliferation of Internet pages that offer to obtain a driver's licence without the need to take any type of knowledge test, neither theoretical nor practical, the General Directorate of Traffic wants to alert everyone that this practice and belief is completely impossible.

In Spain it is essential to pass an exam in order to obtain a driving licence or, for non-EU foreigners who already have one, exchange it for a Spanish one in case of being a citizen of countries with which there is an exchange agreement.

The Central Research and Analysis Group (GIAT Central) of the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil, has been investigating in recent weeks several pages of this type in which it is offered to obtain a "legal" Spanish driving licence simply paying an amount of money that, for example, in the case of permit B amounts to 850 euro.

These types of pages usually always use the same procedure to defraud users. They are advertised on the Internet, with a mobile phone number as the only way of contact, through which they ask the interested party to send all the complete information (name, surname, ID, date of birth, etc.), in addition to a photograph of the owner and another of the firm.

Once, supposedly, they have verified the authenticity of the data, they send the number of the current account in which the requested amount must be deposited by bank transfer and, after receiving the payment of said amount, they disappear without a trace.

They are usually temporary web pages, with Spanish telephone numbers of non-existent holders, which do not allow calls to be received but only data and which, furthermore, are constantly changing so as not to leave traces of their activity.

These types of scams are usually directed at migrants from third countries who are led to think that it is possible to obtain a driving licence without taking any prior examination, which is why Traffic insists on making it clear that this is impossible.

Speed Limits on the Secondary Road Network in Spain

On some 7,000 kilometres of the secondary road network in Spain, the maximum permitted speed limit is set at 90 kilometres per hour, on roads, outside of towns and cities, where no other restrictions are in force, in other words, where there are no signs indicating a stricter limit (on some rare occasions, the maximum us set at 100 kilometres per hour, but this too will always be signposted).

This is in effect the same concept as the commonly referred to “National Speed Limit” which has been in place on British roads since the 60´s, where a maximum permitted speed is set on roads outside of towns. It should be noted, however, that although the concept is the same, there is not a road sign in the Spanish catalogue which is the equivalent to that in the UK. In the UK, it is indicated by a white circle with a black diagonal band. This does not exist in Spain (there is a sign that looks similar, but it does not have the same meaning).

In Spain, the maximum permitted speed on the secondary road network outside of towns is 90 kilometres per hour, for cars, motorbikes, small motor homes and pickups, as well as buses (except under certain circumstances), derivatives of cars, and mixed adapted vehicles.

In Spain, speed limits are dictated by three elements, the road, the vehicle, and the driver (in some cases). Therefore, some vehicles are still restricted further, such as trucks, vans, large motor homes, articulated vehicles, vehicles towing a trailer, and others not listed, which are restricted to a maximum permitted speed of 80 kilometres per hour on these roads.

Bicycles and mopeds are restricted to a maximum permitted speed of 45 kilometres per hour.

Remember, we are talking only about the secondary road network, where no other restriction is in place, so if there is a sign saying that the maximum permitted speed is 80, or 50, for example, then that is the case.

Similar vehicular restrictions are also in place on motorways, although the limits differ, but today we are talking specifically about the secondary road network outside of towns.

Some drivers are also restricted such as may be the case those suffering certain medical conditions, for which the doctor has determined a restriction is necessary. In the case of a speed limit being imposed on a driver, a sign must be displayed on the back of the vehicle, the same sign we see on slow moving vehicles such as street sweepers.

As a final note, we must also remind you that all speed limits are maximums, and not targets. Many other factors can dictate that the speed achieved should be much lower than the maximum at any time.

The Littlest Eye in the Sky

As well as the crews on the ground, and helicopters and, in some locations, planes, the roads of Spain are also protected by the littlest eye in the sky, in the form of drones.

Drones are in use monitoring the road network to detect reckless driving behaviour and to monitor traffic in those sections with a high risk of incidents and on roads with a higher traffic of vulnerable users, in particular cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.

They are also used to monitor and support regulation in operations and special events in which a high number of road movements are concentrated; for ordinary regulatory missions complementary to those carried out by helicopters; and to support emergency situations that, due to their severity, significantly affect the circulation and safety of road users.

The DGT has both trained pilots and observers using the drones, as does the Guardia Civil. The General Directorate of Traffic is accredited by the State Agency for Aviation Safety as an operator of remotely piloted aircraft systems. Likewise, the DGT helicopter unit is a pilot training organisation for the issuance of basic and advanced certificates for piloting drones.

How do they work?

The commissioning of these aircraft is carried out by a pilot, who is in charge of handling the flight controls, and an operator who operates the camera, both functions that can be carried out both by personnel from the General Directorate of traffic and by officers of the Guardia Civil Traffic Group, after obtaining the required certificate.

The infraction captured by drones may be notified immediately by an agent of the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil on the ground, or be processed later by the competent authorities, with notifications issued normally through registered post. All sanctions will have the corresponding frame with the evidence of the offence committed by the driver.

Each DGT helicopter patrol based in A Coruña, Zaragoza, Valladolid, Seville, Malaga and Valencia have drones to carry out missions in their local environment and area of influence (neighbouring communities). The central base in Madrid has more units which, in addition to flying over the roads of the Community of Madrid and Castilla la Mancha, provide backup and support to the rest of the provinces of the national territory that need it.

For their part, Cantabria, Asturias and Extremadura, and the island areas of the Balearic and Canary Islands, have drone units.

They all work at a height of 120 metres and their propellers allow them to reach 80 kilometres per hour. They can withstand temperatures between 20 and 45 degrees.

They have an autonomy of up to 40 minutes, a period after which the battery is changed, and they can resume flight immediately. Although the range of action of the DGT drones can reach 10 kilometres, currently the Air Media Unit maintains a line of sight in all of them that goes between one and two kilometres.

Pioneers in use for traffic offences

Since the start of the drone traffic surveillance activity in 2018, it has become one of the most effective means of detecting the use of mobile telephony behind the wheel (they represent 12.5% of the total infractions detected), the incorrect use of seat belts and child restraint systems (15, 9%), and overtaking cyclists without respecting the minimum safety distances (4%).

The most common diseases of summer and how to avoid them

The most frequent pathologies for which patients go to the emergency room during the holidays are usually acute-onset external otitis and gastrointestinal problems as the main cause of admission, as stated by Dr.Juan Costell, head of the emergency department of the Quirónsalud Torrevieja hospital

As for otitis, Dr. Costell explains that “otalgia with a history of recent bathing is usually the reason that causes greater care consultation. They are usually secondary external otitis by immersion in swimming pools or in the sea, as is usual at this time of year.” This type of ear infection, caused by the action of moisture, produces an alteration in the epithelium of the external auditory canal, which in turn causes the germs that are usually in the duct to penetrate, causing the infection.

As for its symptoms, the doctor reports that “it manifests as a strong pain in the area and, if the disease progresses, suppuration and narrowness of the ear canal occurs along with a temporary hearing loss since the inflammation does not let the air through”, Dr. Costell recommends that, after three or four days, after the visit to the emergency room and treatment with topical antibiotic therapy, the patient should visit the otolaryngrine since this pathology can give many problems a posteriori and should be controlled.

In relation to gastrointestinal problems, Dr. Costell points out that, although the care demand is lower than in cases of otitis, the severity of the pathology may even require the patient’s admission. “Acute gastroenteritis is usually accompanied by vomiting, increased number of bowel movements, diarrhoea, high fever and oral intolerance. Most of these problems in summer are due to food poisoning, the main danger being severe dehydration, especially in children and the elderly.”

To prevent a picture of gastrointestinal problems in summer, hand hygiene is essential before preparing food and consuming, preferably, freshly prepared or refrigerated food, since the heat can alter its state.

Summer pathologies, what they are and how to avoid them

Although these pathologies are present all year round, as stated by Dr. José Luis Lasaga, head of emergencies at Quirónsalud Alicante, “it is in summer and during the holidays when they manifest themselves in a more recurrent way”. To know what they are and how we can avoid the most common summer diseases, Dr. Lasaga indicates to pay attention to the following points:

Dermatological infections and other of these the most frequent are fungal infections and especially the so-called athlete’s foot, which occurs after stepping on wet ground and previously infected by other people. “To prevent it,” says Dr. Lasaga, “it is important to use flipflops both in swimming pools and showers and dry our feet very well. In case of infection, it will be necessary to use a topical antifungal treatment”

Diseases related to heat and prolonged exposure to high temperatures without adequate ventilation or hydration. “Its symptoms can range from muscle cramps, dizziness, loss of consciousness, to hyperthermia, hypotension, dehydration and death,” explains the specialist of Quirónsalud Torrevieja. The doctor advises avoiding peak hours of sun, proper hydration and keeping the body cool.

Sexually transmitted diseases by increasing the possibility of isolated sexual contact without the use of adequate protective measures. To avoid them, Dr. Lasaga advises the use of condoms to minimise the risk of contracting these diseases. “If this happens, go to your doctor to perform the appropriate complementary tests and establish the appropriate treatment,” says the specialist.

Bites of insects and other animals such as sea urchins, jellyfish, etc. In most cases they cause mild symptoms that are usually controlled with physical and anti-inflammatory measures, “although we must not forget that we must consult with your doctor or go to the emergency services without having symptoms such as dizziness, loss of consciousness, uncontrolled fever, dyspnoea or chest pain”, says Lasaga.

Finally, to spend a good summer without scares the specialists of Quirónsalud Torrevieja and Alicante recommend drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding the hours of increased sun exposure, use of adequate sunscreens, a balanced diet, washing hands frequently, and if we travel do not forget the medication if you need it and health reports, and in case of doubt consult with our usual doctors or go to the emergency services.