Re: Driving age
 

Round here most drivers like to use the inside lane on a roundabout and then cut you off even when you are taking the same exit :ohmy: You have to think for them as well as for yourself! :unsure:

Re: Driving age
 

We have a petrol station near us, in the middle of nowhere, which very thoughfully has a bar inside.

50 Euros of sin plomo and a brandy please... :blink:

Re: Driving age
 

Ive worked in the Fire Service for many years and ive lost count of the number of road traffic collisions ive attended involving young lads and usually trees walls or lamp posts. No matter how often you try to warn them of the dangers they never seem to learn.

Re: Driving age
 

In this area learners definitely take lessons in groups and it was a driving instructor who told me that they are supposed to go round the roundabouts in the outside lane!:lol:

I think the inside lane is there for the gardeners to park their equipment.

My son's school bus drops off and picks up a roundabout!

Re: Driving age
 

when i first moved here it reminded me of the wacky races(am i showing my age)

Re: Driving age
 

It still is like that round here :p

Re: Driving age
 

In all seriousness no one has mentioned the fact Spain has one of the worse statistical records for road deaths in Europe.

Re: Driving age
 

What really annoys me is the lack of road courtesy, not many people let you through when trying to join traffic..and also my pet hate ...sitting in the overtaking lane even when being flashed at !!! don't think they know what that mirror stuck on the front windscreen is for !!!!!!!
Driving instructors should teach road manners !!!:curse::curse:

Re: Driving age
 

Not at all... Europe is much bigger now and Spain sits about in the middle - with less road deaths in 2005 per head than Belgium would you believe.

Re: Driving age
 

TT
We agree Europe is larger. But what Europe are you talking about? When we stated the facts we was talking about a report written by the ETSC.
http://www.etsc.be
On this web page you find the following link to a PDF. On the second page of the file there is a graph that states quite clearly that Spain is very very near the bottom of the list.
http://www.etsc.be/documents/copy_of...2.18-final.pdf
If you read the Spanish newspapers you will see that the Spanish government acknowledge this problem too.
Our local paper is presently running a Googlemaps mash up of the location of the road deaths in Galicia. If you look at the map you will see crosses marking where accidents occur with deaths. In most case the accident involves more than one death. Unlike the ETSC report that discusses only Autovia accidents, here you can see the true value. 99.9% of the accidents in this newspaper article are on other classifieds roads.
http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/galicia...9730560275.htm

Re: Driving age
 

:) I really do do my best to teach road manners, but I'm only one of the many influences new drivers have on the roads. They see how their family members drive, how their friends drive and mostly the response they get from other roads users whilst they are out having a lesson:ohmy:. I'm not saying that all these influences are bad but it all adds to the bigger picture.
As I said I do my best giving positive advise on good manners on the roads and the pupil will always see me acknowledging by wave or smile those road users who give way, let us in and are generally courteous to us.

Carol :D

Re: Driving age
 

:blink: and where is this :confused:

Re: Driving age
 

British are lovely drivers, specially in small towns. Always a hand-thank you, or giving you way when in narrow roads. Spaniards are on a mission driving. That is my biggest surprise since I came to London. Even central London is a relaxed drive -so it should, at 8£ for the privilege. Madrid is tough.

But I don't like driving in motorways here. It seems that everywhere I want to go, a jam is waiting for me. No wonder there are less accidents in UK motorways, the average speed must be like 10 mph.

Re: Driving age
 

In Spain they park on roundabouts, in the UK they park on motorways!

Re: Driving age
 

I've not found that, but then my experience is mainly Costa Blanca and in much smaller places like Alicante. Spanish drivers around here are actually quite calm and sedate, unless they drive a Seat - because then they're maniacs... but having said that they don't hang around for long because they've already overtaken you.

The two things I find scary:

- Parking. Spanish and slow-speed close-proximity car control don't seem to mix.
- Lorries. Truck and lorry drivers all drive like Seat drivers. :)