Page 633 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  631

Speed Limits and Fines
Speed limits for cars without
trailers on the roads in
Spain are as follows:
• 120 km/h (75 mph) on
autopistas (toll motorways);
• 100 km/h (62 mph) on
autovías (non-toll motorways);
• 90 km/h (56 mph) on
carreteras nacionales
(main roads) and carreteras
comarcales (secondary roads);
• 50 km/h (31 mph) in
built-up areas.
Speeding fines are imposed
on the spot and are determined
by the speed at which you are
driving; fines range from €6.50
to €12 per kilometre over the Driving through the Sierra Nevada along one of Europe’s highest roads
limit. Fines for other traffic Other Roads
offences (such as turning the Emergency telephones occur
wrong way into a one-way every 2 km (1.2 miles) along Carreteras nacionales, Spain’s
street) depend on the severity the autopistas. main roads, have black-and-
of the offence and often on white signs and are designated
the whim of the police officer. N (Nacional) plus a number.
Tests for drink-driving and Using Autopista Tolls Those with Roman numerals
fines for drivers over the blood If you are travelling on an (NIII) start at the Puerta del Sol
alcohol legal limit, which is 25 autopista, you pick up a in Madrid. The distance from
mg per ml, are now imposed ticket from a tollbooth (peaje) the Kilometre Zero mark in
frequently throughout the as you drive on to it and give the Puerta del Sol (see p276)
country. If driving, it is best it up at a booth as you exit. appears on kilometre markers.
not to drink any alcohol at all. Your toll will be calculated Those with ordinary numbers
according to the distance (N6) have kilometre markers
you have covered. Over giving the distance from the
Motorways some short stretches provincial capital. Some
Spain has more than 2,900 km of motorways near carreteras nacionales
(1,800 miles) of autopistas, and the cities a fixed are dual carriageways,
many more are planned. These price is charged. but most are single-
are generally toll roads and can Tolls can be paid lane roads and can
be expensive to use. You can either in cash or by be slow. They tend
establish whether a motorway is credit card. You must to be least busy from
toll-free by the letters that prefix join one of three Autopista toll 2pm to 5pm.
the number of the road: A = free channels at the peaje booths ahead Autovías are roads
motor way, AP = toll motorway. leading to different built in recent years
The long-distance tolls are booths. Do not drive into to motorway standard to
calculated per kilometre, and telepago, a credit system replace N roads. They have blue
the rate varies from region to for which a chip on your signs similar to autopista signs.
region. Among the busiest and windscreen is required. Because they have no tolls, they
most expensive are the AP7 Tarjetas has machines for are busier than autopistas.
along the south coast from you to pay by credit card, Carreteras comarcales,
Barcelona to Alicante and the while in manual an attendant secondary roads, have
AP68 Bilbao–Zaragoza autopista. will take your ticket and a number preceded by
There are service stations your money. the letter C. Other minor
every 40 km (25 miles) or so roads have numbers
along the autopistas, and they preceded by letters
are marked by a blue and representing the name
white parking sign (P) or a sign of the province, such
indicating the services available. as the LE1313 in
As you approach a service Lleida. In winter,
station, a sign will indicate the watch out for signs
distance to the next one and indicating whether a
will also list its services. Most mountain pass ahead
will have a petrol station, toilets, is open (abierto) or
a shop and a café. The peaje manual channel, with attendant closed (cerrado).

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