Roundabouts in Spain - Article / video / information
Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 10:57 am
There is quite a lot of confusion in Spain over roundabouts as they are a relatively recent introduction to Spanish roads and the Spanish drivers don't always drive as they should around them, which can and often does cause problems.
This video from the Government of Spain's 'Ministeria del Interior' shows how a guard "teaches" the drivers on the inner lane(s) of a roundabout that they cannot take an exit from these lanes , " forcing " them to continue circulating and come back round and then indicate in advance to get safely into the outside lane to exit the roundabout at their chosen exit:
Video - http://revista.dgt.es/es/multimedia/vid ... NnLL-asXfd
***(Update edit 2017 - Sorry it appears the link above is now not working and we can't find another copy of this video - If anyone finds it please put it on this topic).
Here's another article though that may help explain the principles of roundabouts -- http://n332.es/2015/05/17/exiting-roundabouts/
Is it me or is this just what we do, and are legally supposed to do, in the UK? If so then it shouldn't be a problem for us Brits to do the right thing on Spanish roundabouts. There are some big roundabouts with multiple lanes that can be more difficult to negotiate (especially when those who don't understand the basic principles of roundabouts make mistakes and don't take extra care) but with care and attention the way we Brits drive around them should be similar to UK roundabouts.
How many times do we see drivers come from one of the inside (Inner) lanes and cross straight over the path of a car in the outside lane to take the exit - If we did this in the UK it would be wrong and it is wrong in Spain too.
I am open to contradiction but looking at the video it does appear that what we do in the UK on roundabouts (when done correctly) is very similar to the Spanish rules!
Discuss if you wish?
Jan.
This video from the Government of Spain's 'Ministeria del Interior' shows how a guard "teaches" the drivers on the inner lane(s) of a roundabout that they cannot take an exit from these lanes , " forcing " them to continue circulating and come back round and then indicate in advance to get safely into the outside lane to exit the roundabout at their chosen exit:
Video - http://revista.dgt.es/es/multimedia/vid ... NnLL-asXfd
***(Update edit 2017 - Sorry it appears the link above is now not working and we can't find another copy of this video - If anyone finds it please put it on this topic).
Here's another article though that may help explain the principles of roundabouts -- http://n332.es/2015/05/17/exiting-roundabouts/
Is it me or is this just what we do, and are legally supposed to do, in the UK? If so then it shouldn't be a problem for us Brits to do the right thing on Spanish roundabouts. There are some big roundabouts with multiple lanes that can be more difficult to negotiate (especially when those who don't understand the basic principles of roundabouts make mistakes and don't take extra care) but with care and attention the way we Brits drive around them should be similar to UK roundabouts.
How many times do we see drivers come from one of the inside (Inner) lanes and cross straight over the path of a car in the outside lane to take the exit - If we did this in the UK it would be wrong and it is wrong in Spain too.
I am open to contradiction but looking at the video it does appear that what we do in the UK on roundabouts (when done correctly) is very similar to the Spanish rules!
Discuss if you wish?
Jan.