Using your mobile phone while driving could prove very expensive and painful from January 2 as new road safety rules apply.
The new rules also lower the speed limits on urban roads and limit electric scooters to 25 kph.
The aim of the new Law on the Circulation of Motor Vehicles and Road Safety, General Circulation of Vehicles and Drivers is to cut road deaths and serious injuries by 50% in the next decade and are consistent with the recomendaciones of the WHO (World Health Organisation).
THE DRIVING LICENCE POINTS SYSTEM WILL BE REFORMED TO:
Increase from 3 to 6 the points lost for driving while using a mobile phone.The 200€ fine will be maintained.
Increase from 3 to 4 points for not using a seatbelt, a safety retention system for infants, a helmet and other safety elements (in case of motorcycles). The misuse of these elements (such as not having your seatbelt secured or your helmet done up) are also sanctionable.
Carrying mechanisms which detect radar or cinemometers, even if they are inactive, is considered a serious offence with a 500€ fine and the loss of 3 points.
Cars and motorcycles may not exceed the speed limit by more than 20kph to overtake on conventional roads.
A driver may recuperate 2 points on their driving licence by taking a course of Safe Driving certified by the DGT.
Loss of points will last for two years on the driving licence, irrespective of the offence committed.
Using unauthorized intercomunication devices during a driving exam is considered a serious offence with a 500€ fine and six months ban from retaking the test.
Transport companies, people or goods, can go to the online register for drivers to check whether their licence to carry others is valid or not.
DRIVING IN URBAN AREAS
The speed limit for single lane urban roads with pavement is 20kph.
The speed limit for single lane one way systems is 30kph.
On urban roads with two or more lanes on a one way system the speed limit is 50kph.
PERSONAL MOBILITY VEHICLES
Vehicles with one or more wheels for a single person and exclusively using electricity, such as scooters or sabway, with speeds from 6 to 25kph will be regulated. Wheelchairs and vehicles for people with reduced mobility are excluded.
These vehicles (in the category mentioned above) may not be used on pavements or pedestrian áreas, inter-urban roads, crossings, motorways in uban areas, or urban tunnels.
These vehicles must comply with the norms of circulation as with other vehicles. Drivers may be requuired to take a breathalyser test and may not use earphones while driivng.
These vehicles must have a certificate of circulation which confirms it complies with technical requirements in the Manual, two years after its publication.
DRIVING LICENCES
The age for driving a lorry, after passing the Certificate of Professional Aptitutde (CAP) of 280 hours duration, is reduced from 21 to 18 years.
The age limit to drive coaches is alo reduced from 21 to 18 years, but without passengers and within a radius of 50 km. Only from 21 years may drivers with the CAP may carry passengers.
The weight vans may carry on national terrority with a Licence B is increased from 3,500kg to 4,250kg only when the increase in mass is due to the new propulsión systems.
All these new rules come into effect from January 2,2021.
