Drivers beware! Here comes another Ten Commandments.

Moses with the famous Ten Commendments

The Spanish Parliament has given a first reading to a raft of new laws of the road, and I hear you say, "Groan..Oh No!" That is because we motorists instinctively know that we're not going to like the new rules. We know this is just another way of reaching into our pockets while perhaps including some common sense measures to keep us out of the hospital.

I will not try and treat all of the new measures in one sitting as it will help us to understand each law if we try and go behind what is written to gain a better understanding. So, over the coming weeks we will select a few and place them in focus.

Perhaps my favourite new measure (not) is that the police will be able to fine a vehicle without having to bother to stop it and give the driver a ticket. I can see situations in which this may be desirable, such as a passing motorist on the mobile phone, or even speeding if taking chase will place others in danger There are also a large number of numbskull drivers who deliberately run red lights, some from a stopped position. However, what concerns me is that there is so much inefficiency within the bureaucracy that even if you take the time to go to Trafico and report your change of address they might still go on sending trafic tickets to your old address for years. That way, a ticket that goes unpaid turns into a kind of bond which attracts interest in the government's favour. When it finally comes to your attention you find that the tickets is worth more than your house. That could never be anybody's else's fault other than the owner of the car. Could it?

There will be a change that will affect pedal cyclists that will require only riders up to the age of sixteen to wear helmets. Originally the thinking was that all cyclists be required to wear them, however, adults, who should have more intelligence, objected that to have to wear a helmet would disturb their hairstyle, and that it just isn't necessary because they are never travelling that fast. This was a very vocal group that made more noise about it than was appropriate, so I suppose authorities threw their hands in the air and concluded that if the restriction is only applied to children who are not legally able to make the decision for themselves, than the adults will just have to learn for themselves that when you come off a pedal cycle and land on your head and go to hospital, the first thing they do there is cut your hair off to try and treat your injury.

The hope is that the rider's head will be hard enough to substitute for a helmet. Should children be found riding without a helmet, even those children who left home wearing one at their parent's insistence, their parents will be fined 200 euros. Bet that will be taken out of the inheritance.

Speaking of children, none will be allowed to ride in the front passenger seat if their height doesn't measure at least 1.35 metres, unless the back seat if full of children, or if the car doesn't have a back seat.

This seems to be a safety regulation to keep children from possibly losing their lives. It has never been a good idea to place young children or babies in the front passenger seat as in the case of a frontal collision it is doubtful whether a child could survive. So, why the exclusions? Well, the exclusions will save the driver from receiving a ticket and fine, but then he can proceed and go straight to the crash site. What is needed here is better planning. Generally  parents can avoid putting children at this level of risk through cooperation of car sharing. If you have a Porsche two seater you normally won't have kids, or you will use the Volvo, so forget the exclusions. Let's not take the chance with our children's lives and limbs. All we need to avoid doing that is common sense.

More of the New Commandments at a later date.

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael