Spain and Portugal for Visitors

Posted by : Andy311 on Jun 18, 2006 - 01:05 PM roadtravel

Spain is about to introduce a driving licence system by points, similar to that in Britain and other countries. The difference is that Spanish authorities will subtract instead of add - Spanish licences will initially have 12 points, or 8 in the case of newly qualified drivers. Driving offences will result in points being deducted, and a licence with zero points will be invalidated.

Minor infractions (lose 2 points) include exceeding the speed limit by 20-30 km/h, carrying a child as motorcycle passenger, and parking in a bus lane. For exceeding the speed limit by 30-40 km/h, not wearing a seat belt or crash helmet, not keeping a safety distance, using a mobile phone while driving or doing an illegal U-turn, you will lose 3 points. Four points will be deducted for exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 km/h, careless or reckless driving, throwing anything out of the car (a cigarette end, for example) which might cause fire or accidents, driving a vehicle not covered by your licence, or carrying more than 50% in excess of the permitted number of passengers. The largest penalty, 6 points, is for drunk driving (more than 0.50 mg/l in your breathalyser test, 0.30 mg/l for professional drivers) or driving under the influence of drugs, reckless driving, driving in the wrong direction on a motorway/dual carriageway, or unauthorized racing.

The most bizarre penalty is the 4 points you will lose from your non-existent licence for riding a bicycle on a motorway.

It has not been explained how the system will be applied to drivers with UK or other foreign driving licences.

The system comes into effect on July 1.