Spanish authorities have introduced a new road marking to enhance road safety, but British and other tourists could face heavy fines if they are caught breaking the new law of the road
British drivers heading for Spain beware: a sizzling new road line has been drawn to polish up safety and slice accident rates.
Painted with an eye-catching continuous red line, this latest Spanish traffic innovation gives a bolshy ‘no overtaking’ order to recklessly ambitious motorists tempted to cross it.
On the notorious A-355 near Malaga – dubbed the “highway of death” – officials are working to make things a little safer. Despite beefed-up barriers and warning signs, ten people lost their lives in a single year on the road.
In an attempt to make things a little safer, Spain’s Directorate General for Traffic have rolled out the red line in a bid to stop speeding motorists and joy riders. They have targeted the nation’s most treacherous tarmac, with spots picked out where drivers have a bad repuation for dodgy driving, and crash crises hit hard, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin.
Holidaymakers prepping for their Iberian jaunt should jot down a mental note about the red lines, if they want to sidestep an eye-watering fines.
Spain’s new red line is akin to the UK’s double continuous white line, which also signifies that overtaking is prohibited, especially on roads with blind bends or hills where such manoeuvres could be dangerous.
As per Rule 128 of the Highway Code, when the closest line to you is broken, you may cross the lines to overtake if it’s safe and you can complete the action before reaching a solid white line on your side. The Royal Automobile Club of Spain (RACE) has emphasized that breaching the overtaking ban, regardless of the color of the continuous line, can result in fines of up to €400 (£340) and the deduction of four points from a driving licence.
This penalty is outlined in the General Traffic Regulations and applies equally to both the white line and the new red line. Introducing the red line is part of a broader strategy to enhance road safety, incorporating additional measures such as installing new section radars, bolstering awareness campaigns, and increasing the presence of officers on secondary roads.
In recent years the Spanish federal government, as well as local municipalities, have brought in series of new rules designed to control the impact of tourism on locals’ lives.
For example, alcohol consumption is being curtailed in all three major resorts in Majorca, including Llucmajor, Palma and Calvia, as well as San Antonio, in a bid to combat antisocial antics. The booze ban stretches 1.85km off the coast in all four locations, where party boats are prohibited from approaching the areas, and there’s been a crackdown on happy hours, public drinking and alcohol sales between 9.30pm and 8.00am.
If public drinking leads to disturbances or crowds, then tourists could face fines ranging from £580 to £1,242 (€750 to €1,500), while in more serious cases, fines can rocket up to £2,484 (€3,000) and culprits may be ordered to report back to their embassy. The Spanish government has set aside up to €16 million to enforce the public drinking ban, with security teams actively patrolling popular tourist hubs, especially during peak periods like Christmas and New Year.