Whilst I think driving in Spain is generally better than in the UK as there is less road rage and typically there is more tolerance for making mistakes as we all know roundabouts can be a nightmare with outside lane drivers not taking the next exit and cutting across those that are - and now DGT are trying to tackle the issue with the education of the proper lane use and (of course) fines

https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/The-DGT-advise-of-a-200-euro-fine-for-not-using-roundabouts-correctly

https://murciatoday.com/dgt_clarifies_use_of_roundabouts_in_spain_1664646-a.html

On the topic of driving in Spain and especially this week when there is a massive amount of traffic on the roads ( today in particular) 25 years ago when I first lived here it was not uncommon to have hundreds of deaths in just one weekend in Semana Santa. People often drank and drove. I remember that it was common for people to start drinking in torrevieja and then at 1.00am drive to Alicante to clubs.( There was only one road) There were numerous accidents and everyone knew someone who had been killed in a car accident locally. It was absolutely terrible. Spain has really come a long way in traffic control and has come down really hard on drinking and driving. It is definitely much safer now.

Yes Spain has managed to reduce road deaths and I remember 20 or so years ago (and was amazed) that people used to get drunk on Christmas Eve and drive and it was 'acceptable' and generally none of the police took any action.

One benefit will be a reduction in pollution and in fuel used. I cannot be the only motorist that waits just in case only for the driver to turn off without indicating.

I wonder if DGT will address the issue of “ not all vehicles have indicators” . Specifically they appear to be a factory option on all BMW, Mercedes and Audi vehicles.

it is still a big problem in rural Spain. We rarely see Guardia Civil.

Aaaargggghhh. One of my pet hates. Why has Spain (and more specifically the DGT) invented a system that is not used anywhere else in Europe? Their rules say that the driver in the outside lane going round a roundabout ALWAYS has priority, and if you are on the inside (left) "then you may have to go round the roundabout again to avoid a collision". I'm sorry to any non spanish speakers, but this is the definitive guide: https://www.dgt.es/comunicacion/noti...-forma-segura/

So, as a Brit, you get annoyed by the guy going round in front of you in the right hand lane when he wants to take the third or fourth exit, think he is cutting you up, but no, he is doing the DGT rules!

In Cantabria they saw this as a problem, and invented what is dubbed the "Turbo Rotunda" where they have painted a continuous white line between the left and right lanes that goes straight ahead, and get the system more in line with everywhere else in Europe. Hence, if you want to take the third or fourth exit you have to enter the roundabout on the left, a la the UK.

The Canary Islands have a particular problem because the majority of cars are being driven by tourists, so there is sometimes the feeling it is more like dodgems.........

This is what the turbo rotondas look like in Santander, and use the same principles as the UK. Improved the flow of traffic overnight on the S20 (EDIT: Just smiled when I realised that if this actual layout exists on a real roundabout, then anyone entering from below in the left hand lane has a problem........)

The DGT graphics/animations are not prescriptive enough to cover typical use cases. They are good at showing what is wrong (mal) but not everything that is correct (bien). Where is the correct example (below) of leaving at the third exit (where has green coche B joined the roundabout)?

Most explanations say to treat a roundabout as a straight road with exits to the right, therefore driving on the near side as law says, you drive around the right lane, unless overtaking traffic on the left lane but then leave from the right (never) from the left. But how often is this approach broken?

Yep. The system used by the DGT is based on a very old rule of driving in Spain, and that is "driver on your right always has priority." So, whatever collision happens on a roundabout will nearly always be settled as the fault of the driver on the left. They also say that you should move to the outside lane first before taking your exit, which is why the green car B in your graphic gets approval from the DGT.

All this leads to why you will see so many drivers opting for what they see as a failsafe option, They enter a roundabout in the right lane, and just drive round until they reach their exit. You will never be in the wrong with the DGT.that way.

What I hate is people who talk about inside and outside lanes - just call them left, right or middle. So much clearer.

One of my first friends in Spain back in the 80s was a truck driver. Used to be a great way to see Spain going with him on various trips and pretty much was how I learnt the lingo. However, I remember my shock when we would stop for any meal (including breakfast) at how much wine and brandy would get consumed by all the drivers! It was never a surprise to see someone off the road! As you say, much improved nowadays.

You'd have thought after all these years the DGT wouldn't have to clarify the rules for anyone. It just goes to show how ridiculous they are, especially, as said, nobody else does it this way.
Don't know if you've seen this -
"...although they are classified as a special intersection, roundabouts are treated just like any other road. Albeit a one way street, but a normal road none the less, irrespective of the number of lanes, a roundabout is nothing but a normal, curved road, with junctions."
https://n332.es/exiting-roundabouts/

Yep, Going to the current DGT campaign, one of our friends is a 74 year old Spaniard who is typical of the problem. He is *still* totally convinced he has priority to enter a roundabout because all of the traffic is coming from his left.

rbs - from the Netherlands driving theory exam - "Who has priority at a roundabout?
A roundabout is not defined by law as a priority road. Then the rule applies that traffic coming from the right has priority. This means that traffic entering the roundabout has priority over traffic already driving on the roundabout. Usually the right of way on a roundabout is governed by signs and traffic signs. In that case, traffic signs and signs take precedence over the rules."

https://www.theorieexamen.nl/forum/e...erlands?page=1