Driving in Spain isn’t complicated and the road system is reasonably well worked out. Some rural roads can be very bendy since they will have been built to follow the cattle routes and not the most sensible route for driving. You’ve been warned.
So, my thoughts on driving in Spain:
First off: Spanish motorways are dull, more so than anywhere else I’ve driven (except maybe Texas). The Avenida del Mediterraneo (A7 / AP7) which goes from Barcelona to Malaga along the coast is long and boring.
Second: the Spaniards generally drive like lunatics. They’re often going too fast, driving too close and have little consideration for other road users. Driving in the cities is much like driving in London; you have to be assertive or you’ll struggle to get anywhere.
Third: Spanish pensioners often drive really slowly, even on major roads. The challenge is overtaking on single lane roads. An important point is that if there is a solid white line in the middle of the road then you’re not supposed to cross it, if you get caught by the cops you’ll get a spot fine of at least €120.
Fourth: Spanish roads aren’t always in good condition. Even what we would consider ‘A’ roads can often be in serious need of repair. Best not to take a car that doesn’t have a decent ride height (distance between the road and the bottom of the car).
Fifth: don’t expect decent signposts. They’re on a par with France really. The main difference is that in France you’ll get regular signs saying how far it is to major towns etc. In Spain similar signs aren’t very common unless you are on the motorway.
Sixth: At stop signs you must stop. The police (Guardia Civil) often lie in wait to fine motorists who ignore this, expect a spot fine of at least €120 if you get caught.
Seventh: in rural areas traffic law is sometimes a big lax (especially with locals). I could get some criticism for this but many police live locally and will often ignore things that friends, family, or local officials do wrong on the roads. But never assume that because you’re in a rural area that you’ll get away with anything.
Eight: Stick to the speed limits. Unless otherwise posted the limits are 120kmh on the motorway and 90kmh on other roads. Spot fines apply for speeders and they can also impound your car if they’re so inclined.
Have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by how easy (most of the time) it was to drive in France. Taking a right-hand-drive car onto the continent takes a little bit of getting used to but thankfully the roads around Calais aren’t too taxing.
Took a bit of concentration for a while though. Thankfully Emma navigated rather well (most of the time) and we managed to drive through Calais town and onto the road towards Rouen. So, take your time until you get the hang of driving on the wrong side of the road.
So the thoughts:
First thing to note is that, although the roads are in good condition, (in some places better than British roads), signposting is a bit hit-and-miss. So you can expect to get lost here and there.
The trick is to not panic and make sure you either have a Satnav or that your navigator makes quick decisions and gives clear instructions (“turn left / turn right / go straight” is good – “that way” is not so good).
The second thing is that in the tourist areas French roads are full of tourists driving very slowly (plenty of Dutch we found). So best to stick to motorways if you’re in any kind of hurry.
A good example was our drive from Tauves to Issoire (the motorway junction) which, while only 50km or so, took over an hour and a half. A combination of windy roads and annoyingly slow tourists (no chance to overtake).
Third: motorway driving is easy but expect regular tolls. French registered cars don’t pay road tax but they make you pay for using major roads, bridges and tunnels.
So if you’re taking your time, you could save some money by using minor roads.
NB: We spent around £70 in tolls between Calais and Murcia in Spain so remember to take this into account. We’ll, no doubt, spend about the same on the way back.
Fourth: driving standards take a turn for the worst when approaching the Spanish border.
French drivers (away from Paris) seem very well behaved and generally quite courteous. However, the standard of driving in Spain is (in my view) appaling, they drive like lunatics, far to close, far too fast with little consideration for anyone else on the roads.
Sadly this influence seemed to hit French roads in the Southern Languedoc when we were driving down.
And finally: motorway services are generally pretty good. The food and drink is not too pricey (normally good quality too) and the toilet facilities clean and well-maintained. There are plenty of rest-stops too with just a parking area and toilets (many of them have picnic tables and kids play areas also).
So, enjoy your driving in France; some of it is very scenic and worth getting off the beaten track for.
