Page 250 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

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Travelling by Road better to fill up at a staffed
station. You will need to show
Spain’s fastest roads are its autopistas. They are normally ID if you pay by credit card.
dual carriageways and are subsidized by peajes (tolls).
Autovías are similar but have no tolls. The carretera nacional is Rules of the Road
the countrywide network of main roads or highways with the Spain has a few road rules and
prefix N. Smaller minor roads are generally less well kept but signs that may be unfamiliar
provide a more leisurely and enjoyable way to see rural areas to some drivers from other
of Spain. These pages tell you how to use the roads, tolls and countries. To turn left at a busy
parking meters, and explain important driving regulations. junction or across oncoming
traffic you may have to turn
right first and cross a main road,
passport or a national identity often across traffic lights, over a
card as ID. You must also display bridge or through an under pass.
a sticker with the car’s country If you are going the wrong way
of registration on the rear of on a motorway or a main road
the vehicle. with a solid white line, you
A national highway sign
The headlights of right-hand- are allowed to do a u-turn
drive vehicles will have to be where you see a sign for a
Arriving By Car adjusted or deflected. This is cambio de sentido. At any
Many people drive to Spain done with stickers that can be crossing you must give way to
via the French motorways. The bought at ferry ports traffic on the
most direct routes across the and on ferries. You right unless a sign
Pyrenees pass through Hendaye risk on-the-spot fines indicates otherwise.
on the western flank (Basque if you fail to carry It is compulsory
Country) and Port Bou in the two red warning always to wear seat
east (Catalonia). Other, rather triangles, spare light belts in front and rear
more tortuous routes may be bulbs, a first-aid kit seats. Oncoming
used, from Toulouse through and a reflective vest. drivers may flash
the Vall d’Aran, for instance. The In winter you should their headlights at
mid-Pyrenees route through carry chains if you you, which means
Puerto de Somport to Jaca is intend to drive in they are claiming the
beautiful, for those with time mountain areas. In right of way and you
to spare. From the UK there are summer, it is a good Sign for an autovía, a fast should let them
car ferries from Plymouth and idea to take drinking toll-free road go first.
Portsmouth to Santander, and water with you if you
from Portsmouth to Bilbao in are travelling in a remote area. Speed Limits
the Basque Country (see p245).
and Fines
Buying Petrol The speed limits on Spanish
What to Take
In Spain petrol stations (gaso­ roads for cars without trailers
Spanish law requires you to lineras) sell both unleaded petrol are as follows: 120 km/h (75
carry with you at all times your (gasolina sin plomo) and diesel mph) on motorways, 100 km/h
vehicle’s registration document, (gasóleo). Petrol stations are (62 mph) on dual carriageways,
a valid insurance certificate and usually self-service. Automatic 90 km/h (56 mph) on main or
your driving licence. You must card-operated pumps often secondary roads, and 40 km/h
always be able to show a reject foreign credit cards. It’s (25 mph) in built-up areas.
Speed traps and tests for
drink-driving are increasingly
common. The latter are
especially frequent at week ends
by motorway exit roads.
The legal limit for blood
alcohol is 30 mg per millilitre
(0.05 per cent).

Motorways
Spanish motorways come in
two varieties: autopistas (des-
ignated “AP”, followed by the
route number) and autovías
A petrol station belonging to the Repsol chain (“A”). Autovías are toll-free.

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