Roundabouts, Traffic Circles, or Rotondas (Part A)

Roundabouts, like mobile phones in Spain are everywhere. Before they were introduced how did we ever get along without them. The problem is that not everyone knows how to use both of these things to their best advantage. But should we fail to take advantage of the full technology available to us in our mobile phones, we will not suffer to any appreciable degree. When we get it wrong on the roundabout, the consequences can be at worst disastrous, and at best inconvenient.

The roundabout is a relatively newcomer to Spanish roads. Simply put, it's an intersection, but one that is intended to keep traffic moving. In many other parts of the world they have long been in use, especially in the U.K. and the U.S. But nobody does roundabouts like Spain. I never stop marvelling at the grandeur of some of these creations. They are either architecturally award winning, or blue ribbon gardens. Increasingly they are being used as showpieces for the town, indicating historical aspects and the pueblo takes great pride in their offering.

In the pueblo of L’Eliana which is twenty minutes from downtown Valencia to the West, when we moved in five years ago there were only two roundabouts. Now between the main road turnoff and the other side of the town by-pass there are nine. But, there is just one tiny problem: we are not universally certain of how to correctly use them.

I stood and watched the action at one of the very busy ones, and what I discovered was that approximately 75 to 80% of drivers got it wrong resulting in some very near collisions. To complicate matters, even the official rules-of- the-road book gets it wrong. To quote the English language version, called “Learning to Drive”, on the section on intersections, “In squares, traffic circles and road junctions, you should circulate on the right leaving the centre to the left, unless there is signalling indicating the opposite.” Now, apart from trying to decipher what that means, they actually present a graphic of a roundabout with cars entering in the right lane and passing the first exit on the right.

I do believe that the designers of this concept had it in their minds that where there are two lanes in the circle, all traffic entering the roundabout should enter in the left hand lane, except for traffic that intends to exit at the first turnoff.

Let’s consider how that works: two cars approach and enter the circle at the same time. The car on the outside (right) lane intends to take the first exit on the right. The car on the inside (left) lane intends to take the next exit and does so after the first car has left the circle. The way is clear for the second car to do so as there are no other cars to his right. Vehicles waiting to enter the circle only do so when they have the all clear.

But beware, the rule of priority at roundabouts is contrary to that of the norm, in that traffic at other type intersections approaching from your right would have the right-of-way, unless they are restrained by a stop sign. (However, in Spain lots of people regard stop signs as mere suggestions.) To older resident drivers this becomes confusing, especially after a hard day’s work, or late at night after the bar closes. They may forget. I have saved myself three broadside collisions by making sure the other driver was giving me my priority.

Death on the roads? It doesn’t have to end like that!
Stay safe! Drive safely!

Copyright (c) 2008 Eugene Carmichael

Driving Through Europe

Don’t leave home without an International Driving License or Permit if it is your intention to drive through several of the members States that make up the European Union. Of course, should you hold a new style British license that doubles as the EU driving permit your past problems of driving on the Continent should be over. Alas, would that life was that simple.

Q. What is the International Driver’s License, (IDL), or Permit, and what is it’s intended purpose?
R. It is simply a translation of your original license into ten major languages and it is intended to assist the traveller when passing through a country that might not recognize your original permit owing to the language difference. Having said that, if the country in which you intend to travel absolutely prohibits driving under your original permit, an IDL, in theory, will not help you.

The document itself is a small booklet with several pages that contain the name, place and date of birth, and address of the holder in the country of issuance, as such details appear in the original license. On the primary page there will appear a photograph of the holder, and this will also be the signature page. The same information appears on the subsequent pages but in different languages. Normally they are only issued in the country of original issuance of the primary license and may only be valid for one year, although under certain circumstances validity can be extended for three years. Automobile associations can be helpful in obtaining an IDL.

It should be clearly seen that this facility is designed for the travelling public. It does not act as a substitute for foreigners who take up residence in one of the EU countries who may be required to hold a local license. I have a couple of examples in mind:

- You have come to Spain to take up residence. You hold an old-style non-photo British license. Firstly, you need to have that license translated by a judicial translator for the benefit of the police officer. Otherwise, he cannot even begin to understand what he is looking at. The law in Spain says that such a permit is lawful, but it is highly likely the attending officer won’t think so. And there you are, caught in the middle.

To make matters worse, such an officer may not even accept from a resident as valid a British, or other country issued EU style license. The only response that you can give to such an officer is that your license is registered on the Spanish police computer, (if this is so). However, to get your license registered will be an uphill battle because the clerks at Trafico think that it is not necessary, and will refuse to do it. (Hire a business agent, an Asesoria, or Gestor to handle this aspect for you.)
I am deliberately placing emphasis on this matter because I have encountered several people who are living and working in Spain and driving on licenses issued outside the EU. Because they hold IDL´s in conjunction with their original license they believe that they are safe. Some have even been given a pass through documentation check-points, and they use this as evidence that they need do nothing more to be in compliance.

The real problems will start when, or if such a person is the one to have caused an expensive accident. Insurance companies only pay those claims that they absolutely have to by law. They examine each claim looking for the one thing that will let them off the hook. (This is because the insurance policy is a legal contract, subject to various exclusionary clauses). At the top of the claim’s check-list is the question: Was the person, presumed to be at fault in the accident, in possession of a valid and current driver’s license?

The license will be subject to the most intense scrutiny, and what went flying by an officer at the side of the road could bring the claim’s process to a screeching halt, with jaw-dropping consequences for the individual. Conversely, often the officer at the side of the road is overruled by Trafico, or the courts, or the insurance companies. This will be a relief after the initial hassle, but of course, the idea is to avoid such unpleasantness in the first place. When visiting other countries, if you are in possession of an IDL you have a little bit of extra “insurance” to cover possible misunderstandings.

So far, we haven’t even got out of first gear in our intended trip through Europe. We now have 27 plus countries on our itinerary, so we better get started. Once having visited places of interest in Spain we can set off in any direction that takes our fancy. The Spanish will warn us that people drive like absolute maniacs in Portugal and in Italy. Neither of those countries are complimentary about Spanish drivers, but all three are united against the French. So, we shall see. Wherever we go outside Spain we will need to raise our alertness to a higher level than normal because having trouble away from home is always more bothersome because of the distance.

Why go to Portugal on a driving holiday?

For the change of scenery! A change, it is said , is as good as a rest. Portugal offers destinations such as Lagos, in the southwest corner of the Algarve with superb beaches and many points of historical interest dating from the 15th century. Lagos was once the capital of the Algarve. Like Spain, the Arab influence is very strong, especially along the Ponta da Piedada, a favourite with visitors.

The Costa Azul is the Atlantic coast and takes in Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, and along to Porto in the north. Lisbon itself is a thoroughly modern and exciting city to visit. One could be fully occupied and never leave the city, but around and about there are castles, churches of great importance, museums, palaces, great parks, archaeology digs, and of course, great golf courses. While it’s true that one can find many similar such interests in Spain, you have to go to Portugal to experience the Portuguese hospitality and way of doing things.

And so our great adventure has begun. We will return to our travellers to follow them into Gibraltar, then again through Spain’s Costas, into France and into Italy. But for now we bid them good luck, and safe driving.

Always wear the seat belt. It’s meant to save your life!

Copyright (c) 2008 Eugene Carmichael

Suicide on the Roads

Suicide on the Roads, or Death by Stupidity

What on God’s Green Earth makes so many people act with such stupidity while on the road, is quite beyond me to comprehend. Take away the element of death by stupid cause, and what would we be left with? Very few deaths on the road, that’s what.

We all see it every day. Daring, kamikaze, insane and impatient acts that are simply fatal crashes on their way to happen somewhere. Young men on high powered motorcycles get the lion’s share of attention, as they go hell bent for leather on their racing bikes. It seems to be some kind of rite of passage that as a young man you have to have a motorbike that has a big engine sound, and even when travelling a short distance, you want to be noticed.

I was in the vicinity only recently of one incident when a young man left a junction and went screaming towards the next when a car pulled out into his path. The resulting crash, which I did not see, but sounded absolutely horrific, certainly got everybody’s attention. I don’t think that was exactly what the young lad had in mind.

Another situation, another young man with somebody’s daughter sat as pillion passenger, holding on for dear life. This silly boy decided that he would pass me along the right side by squeezing between my car and the hedge and the drainage ditch. At the end of the hedge was the principal entrance and exit of a popular supermarket. Perhaps he was trying to impress the girl, but it’s only by the sheer Grace of God that the two of them did not lose their lives that day.

If he really wanted to impress his passenger, all he needed do was get her home safely without injuries.

I was once young and stupid myself, so I had better admit that to the world, and be done with it. I try to draw on my experience from those days, and I ask what was going through my mind at the time. The answer is, of course, absolutely nothing! I didn’t think about the foolish things that I did before I did them, nor afterwards. And if any of the “old guys” cared to comment on my derrings-do, that was just fine. I had made an impression. I can only imagine I was spared to be able to caution today’s young people in the hope they will be spared. The real question is, are they listening? Of course not!

Getting through that period of one’s life is a challenge to avoid the cull of young people who don’t live to reach their majority. Some people never grow up into responsible adults. Being stupid and middle age is a real indictment. There is no excuse. Like I’m so young I’m expected to be immature, or I’m getting old now and my reflexes aren’t what they used to be. Yet, a significant number of deaths are caused by middle-aged drivers, and far too many of those deaths are self-inflicted. This is a very sad fact because this group are in their prime as family wage earners and carers. A country depends on this group to be homebuyers and consumers, and to have families. All the things that drive an economy forward, so when we lose a young husband or wife the blow to all concerned is very intensely felt.

The saddest thing of all is that death by stupidity is so avoidable. When we know we have to drive, leave the alcohol or drugs out of the consideration. Pay attention to the road when in charge of the vehicle. We are not in our living rooms, we are driving in traffic and we have to stay vigilant and follow the rules of the road.

And finally, before setting out let us as drivers make a promise to those who love us: “I’ll be back!”


Copyright (c) 2008 Eugene Carmichael