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.

Posted by : Andy311 on Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 01:05 PM 1780 reads

In a survey of drivers' knowledge carried out in 12 European countries, Spanish drivers came in next to last, only Slovenians being shakier. But if you are a UK driver you have no reason for smugness: British drivers came in tenth (considering the awful reputation of Portuguese roads, Portuguese drivers emerged in a remarkably good light, in third place after the Germans). And the EuroTest consortium's website does not even spare the top-scoring Austrians from criticism: it concludes that "We all think we are better drivers than we actually are." Read more, or see Spain and Portugal for Visitors' tips on Driving in Spain.

Posted by : John Ross on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 - 11:00 PM 1789 reads

British passenger transport giant National Express and the family-owned Spanish bus company ALSA (Automóviles de Luarca, S.A.) are holding talks with a view to a possible merger. Such a merger would produce the largest passenger transport company in Europe, just in time for the EU liberalization of the sector scheduled for 2006. Find out more about Spanish and Portuguese bus companies, or read on.

Posted by : John Ross on Friday, October 07, 2005 - 11:00 PM 3357 reads

So the lad's done it, bagged himself the Formula 1 world championship, and what's more Fernando Alonso will be the youngest champion in history (he's only 23). Good for him, and I quite understand the Alonsomania which has swept over Spain. But anyone who has driven in Spain in the last few days (or even taken a taxi) knows there is a downside - overidentification. Yup, there are Alonso imitators out there on the roads, fortunately not too many, but enough to make driving in Spain just a tiny bit more hair-raising than usual. So I have added a new page of tips and advice for Driving in Spain - read it or read on.

Posted by : John Ross on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 09:25 AM 2246 reads

Spain is the cheapest country in the eurozone for petrol, according to a comparative study, and the best value for money for fly-drive. The annual study by American Express Foreign Exchange found that non-EU Switzerland was the only country in Europe cheaper than Spain for a motoring holiday, and that car rental prices have actually fallen in most places. Spain even compares well with neighbours France and Italy, though Portugal seems not to have been included. Read on for more.

Posted by : John Ross on Monday, July 04, 2005 - 12:15 PM 3048 reads