Chapter 4: Maneuvers

1. Concept:

A manoeuvre is a notable variation in the moving vehicle such as:

• Merging
• Changing lanes
• Overtaking
• Changing direction
• Turning (including U-Turns)
• Stopping and parking

Safety Rule (M.S.M.):
M (Mirror, look),
S (Signal: with light signals or arm),
M (Manoeuvre)

Acoustic signals (horn):

Use outside of a built-up area:

• To avoid an accident, especially on narrow roads with many bends.
• To alert the driver in front that you are going to overtake.

Use in and out of a built-up area:

• To avoid a possible accident
• To warn of an exceptionally urgent private-vehicle service, using short repeated horn signals together with hazard lights if fitted

Arm signals:

Signs made with the arm will take precedence over light signals. Normally use light signals first. VMP riders must always use arm signals to warn of their manoeuvres.

Turning left	Turning right	Slowing down

Merging with traffic:

When merging with traffic, you must drive at a speed that allows you to stop if you have to give way.

Other vehicles do not give way to the merging vehicle, but they should facilitate their merging.

2. Overtaking:

1. As a general rule: Overtaking is done on the left.

2. You can overtake on the right when:

• When the vehicle ahead clearly signals a left turn or a stop on the left, if there is enough room and it is safe, in or outside a built-up area.
• In a built-up area when there are 2 or more lanes for the same direction and they are marked.
• To pass trams travelling in the centre of a two-way road.

3. Lateral Space:

On ALL ROADS, when overtaking pedestrians, animals, animal-drawn vehicles, mopeds, VMP or cyclists, leave at least 1.5 metres and use part or all of the adjacent/opposite lane. Change lanes completely where there is more than one lane per direction, without endangering oncoming users, including cyclists on the shoulder.

OUTSIDE built-up areas:

• Before and throughout this manoeuvre, keep at least 20 km/h below the road limit. A group of cyclists is treated as one moving unit.
• Riders of any two-wheeled vehicle overtaking another vehicle must also leave at least 1.5 metres. In other cases, leave a clearance appropriate to speed and road width.

4. Obligations of a vehicle being overtaken:

• If there is no risk of accident:
• Never accelerate or hinder the overtaking manoeuvre; keep a predictable speed
• Drive near the right edge of the roadway without entering the hard shoulder
• If there is risk of accident, you must try to avoid it by:
• Slowing down if danger arises after the manoeuvre starts; if the overtaker clearly abandons it, avoid slowing when that would create danger and help them return safely
• As a last resort, going off onto the hard shoulder

Note: Heavy, large or speed-restricted vehicles must slow down or move onto a suitable shoulder when necessary to allow safe overtaking. If unable to keep fully right but safe passage is possible, they may indicate this with the prescribed arm signal or right indicator.

5. Ways to warn that you are going to overtake:

a) To the vehicle behind you with the turn signal or arm.

b) To the vehicle ahead (in front of you):

• In a built-up area with short flashing of lights
• On interurban roads with short flashes of lights or the horn

6. It is forbidden to overtake in:

a) Places of reduced visibility, except when lanes are marked with lines and overtaking is done without entering lanes of the opposite direction.

b) At level crossings and their vicinity.

c) In tunnels and underpasses if there is only one lane for the direction of the vehicle which is to be overtaken.

d) At the following crossings and their vicinity:

• Marked pedestrian crossings
• Intersections with cycle routes

e) At intersections, except:

• If your road has priority at the intersection and an express sign confirms it
• Other exceptions, without removing the duty to give way:
• Passing a two-wheeled vehicle
• Overtaking within a roundabout
• Lawfully passing on the right when the vehicle ahead clearly signals a left turn or a stop on the left

7. When overtaking:

• Even where overtaking is prohibited, you may safely pass a vehicle immobilised for a reason other than traffic, or overtake cycles, mopeds, VMP, pedestrians, animals, animal-drawn vehicles and agricultural special vehicles/combinations whose speed allows it, using the opposite side if necessary and only without danger.
• On urban and interurban roads, when a vehicle occupies all or part of your lane because of breakdown, accident, emergency, assistance, maintenance or traffic-management work, leave at least 1.5 metres and keep at least 20 km/h below the road limit.

8. It is not considered overtaking when one vehicle goes faster than another in these cases:

• Saturated roads (traffic jam)
• In acceleration lanes, deceleration lanes or BUS/BICYCLE lanes
• Among cyclists riding in a group

3. Safe distance

There are 3 types of safe distances:

• 1. A distance to not collide with the vehicle in front of you and to allow the person behind you to safely overtake you (applies to inter-urban routes)
• 2. A distance to not collide with the vehicle in front of you in case of emergency braking
• 3. At least 50 metres to allow overtaking, for vehicles/combinations over 10 metres long or vehicles over 3500kg MAM

The extra overtaking gap in points 1 and 3 is not required in built-up areas, where overtaking is prohibited, with more than one lane in your direction, or in traffic too dense to overtake. Always keep enough space to avoid a collision; grouped cyclists have a specific exception and must take extra care.

In urban traffic, motor vehicles must leave at least 5 metres behind a bicycle or VMP in the same lane. In tunnels/underpasses when not overtaking, leave at least 100 metres or 4 seconds; vehicles over 3500kg MAM: 150 metres or 6 seconds.

If speed doubles, braking distance is approximately four times as long under the same conditions.

4. Turning and changing direction

Turning left

1. On roads with one lane for each direction, stay on the axis of the road without entering the opposite direction lane. 2. On 3-lane two-way roads, go to the middle lane. 3. On one-way streets, keep to the left side of the road. 4. At roundabouts, always go around them. 5. Bicycles and two-wheeled mopeds on interurban roads without a designated left-turn area must move to the right, off the carriageway if possible, and turn from there when safe. 6. Turning left is prohibited in places where there is no visibility or where there is a no left turn sign.

U-turn (change of direction): - At the same level - At a different level

1. On conventional roads, this can be done both at the same and at a different level. 2. On motorways and dual carriageways, it is done at a different level, through the exits. 3. It should be performed in a manoeuvre without reversing. 4. Places where it is prohibited: Where there is no visibility Level crossings and their vicinity In sections of road with TUNNEL signage Where overtaking is prohibited, unless a U-turn is expressly authorised At pedestrian crossings

Reverse: forbidden on motorways and dual carriageways. On other roads it can be done but only in two ways:

• When necessary to complement stopping, parking or joining traffic: no more than 15 metres and do not cross an intersection.
• Only when unable to go forward or turn, such as a dead end: reverse the minimum distance necessary, which may exceed 15 metres or cross an intersection, without danger.

5. Driving on roundabouts

Vehicles driving around a roundabout have priority over those which are trying to join them. Before exiting, move safely into the outside lane, yielding to vehicles already there, unless signs or road markings provide another route.

6. Immobilization

STOP: Voluntary immobilization that lasts less than 2 minutes and the driver does not abandon the vehicle.

PARKING: Voluntary immobilization lasting 2 minutes or more, or lasting less than 2 min and the driver ABANDONS the vehicle.

DETENTION: Immobilization caused by an emergency, traffic needs or compliance with a rule or signal.

6.1 Depending on the type of routes:

Motorways and dual carriageways: forbidden to stop and park except in designated places.

Interurban conventional roads: stop and park outside the carriageway on the right, leaving the passable shoulder clear.

Urban roads and cross-town routes: you can stop and park if there is no rule that prohibits it:

• If the road is two-way: On the right side
• If the road is one-way: On both sides

6.2 Stopping and parking is prohibited:

• at intersections or nearby if turning is obstructed; on interurban roads, also where visibility is reduced
• in BUS or BIKE lanes or bus stops
• at Pedestrian / cyclist crossings
• in spaces reserved for people with disabilities unless entitled to use them
• if it leaves less than 3 metres for others to pass
• on median strip or central reservation
• if it hampers the merging of traffic

6.3 Parking is prohibited:

• In timed zones without authorisation or beyond the permitted time
• On pavements/sidewalks, except two-wheeled vehicles where municipal rules allow parking without hindering pedestrians, especially people with disabilities; or in front of a properly signed vehicle entrance
• In double rows
• In loading and unloading areas during their reserved hours, unless authorised for that use

6.4 Parking rules:

1. Stop the engine and make sure the vehicle cannot be used without authorization.

2. Engage the handbrake (UK) / parking brake (USA).

3. On uphill gradients, put the vehicle in first gear and into reverse on downhill gradients; use the parking position (P) where applicable.

4. On an appreciable slope, vehicles over 3500kg MAM, buses and vehicle combinations must use proper wheel chocks or turn a steering wheel against the kerb. Never use loose stones as chocks.

Motorhomes: When parked, do not extend equipment beyond the vehicle perimeter, rest only on tyres (safety chocks allowed), and do not discharge fluids from the living compartment. Other parking restrictions still apply.

6.5 In case of emergency:

1. Since 1 January 2026, use a certified connected V-16 beacon for Spanish-registered vehicles required to carry it. Activate a single beacon and place it safely on the highest visible part of the vehicle, normally the roof, without walking along the road. The old triangle-placement distances do not apply.

2. Turn on the hazard warning lights during the day and night.

3. Request roadside assistance; use an SOS post or call 112 for an emergency. Leave the vehicle only if there is a safe place outside the carriageway and shoulder, exiting on the side away from traffic; otherwise remain inside with seat belts fastened.

4. On motorways/autovías, a vehicle that cannot continue must be recovered by an authorised roadside-assistance vehicle.