Chapter 11: Other Users

1. Preventive driving

The area of uncertainty is a safety space around the vehicle which covers the front, rear and especially the sides, where any road user could move unexpectedly. E.g. a cyclist can turn right quickly.

Among the various road users: don’t surprise, don’t disturb and be understanding.

In urban traffic, motor vehicles must stay at least 5 metres behind a bicycle or VMP in the same lane. When overtaking pedestrians, animals, animal-drawn vehicles, cycles, mopeds or VMP, leave at least 1.5 metres and occupy part or all of the adjacent lane; with two or more lanes in your direction, change lane completely. Outside towns, also reduce speed to at least 20 km/h below the road limit before and throughout the pass.

2. Use of the road

Pedestrians must travel:

• Use the pavement or pedestrian area; only if unavailable, use a usable shoulder or, failing that, the carriageway with great care
• When using the shoulder or carriageway, generally walk on the left, in single file. Walk on the right when pushing a cycle, moped, VMP or similar vehicle, when walking in an organised group, or when safety requires it
• On an interurban carriageway or shoulder at night or in poor visibility: wear compliant luminous or reflective equipment visible from at least 150 metres
• Walk around roundabouts and use designated pedestrian crossings; do not cross the carriageway elsewhere
• Pedestrians are prohibited on motorways and dual carriageways, apart from regulated emergency and service exceptions

Animals:

• Use livestock routes where available; animals may use other roads only when there is no suitable alternative, normally keeping to the right
• Forbidden to go on the motorway and dual carriageway, including animal-drawn vehicles
• On insufficiently lit roads at night or in poor visibility, animal handlers must show a white or yellow front light and a red rear light

Large vehicles:

• Impede traffic flow and visibility
• Must pay attention to the length while overtaking
• Their wheels can throw up large amounts of spray in rain, reducing your visibility

2-wheeled vehicles:

• Motorcycles, mopeds, motor tricycles, quadricycles and quads: drivers and passengers must wear a fastened UNECE R22 approved helmet, protective gloves on interurban roads, and closed footwear on all roads. If a protective structure and seat belts are recorded in the technical document, use the belts instead. Certified moped helmets remain permitted through 30 September 2027. Motorcycles must use dipped headlights by day.
• Bicyclists: a fastened approved or certified helmet is compulsory on interurban roads, for under-16s on all roads, and for professional riders in towns and travesías. The heat and steep-slope exemptions have been removed. Use a white front light and red rear light at night or in poor visibility; on interurban roads, also wear compliant luminous or reflective equipment visible from 150 metres.

Professional riders of motorcycles, mopeds, motor tricycles, quadricycles, quads, cycles and VMP must wear a high-visibility vest on all roads. Motorcyclists must carry a vest and use it if they leave the motorcycle and occupy an interurban carriageway or shoulder.

VMP (e-scooters): minimum age 15, one occupant, a fastened approved or certified helmet, and arm signals for manoeuvres. At night or in poor visibility, wear compliant luminous or reflective equipment visible from 150 metres. The additional duty to keep lights on by day starts on 1 October 2027.

VMP require registration, an identification label and insurance. They are prohibited on motorways, dual carriageways and travesías. Interurban roads and urban tunnels are also prohibited except permitted cycle facilities and roads closed to motor traffic, unless signs prohibit entry; use of a cycle facility must be authorised for VMP and indicated by the appropriate signs. Pavements are prohibited: municipal permission for other pedestrian areas does not extend to pavements. Municipalities may allow children up to 12 on bicycles on pavements with an adult on foot. Pedestrians retain priority.

In towns, cycles and authorised VMP normally use the lane centre and, where there are several lanes in one direction, the right lane unless manoeuvring or safety requires otherwise. Contraflow riding is allowed only with municipal authorisation and signs on a single-lane street limited to 30 km/h or less. A person with reduced mobility using a VMP at walking pace is treated as a pedestrian.

3. Adjusting the seat and controls

1. Incorrect position causes fatigue and tension.

2. The seat and seat back allow the driver to reach the pedals and steering wheel with slightly bent legs and arms.

3. Clutch:

• ENGAGED = pedal released: the engine is connected to the gearbox; drive reaches the wheels when a gear is selected
• DISENGAGED = pedal pressed: the engine is disconnected from the gearbox

4. Steering wheel: Held firmly and simulating a clock with hands marking 10 minutes to 2 or quarter to 3.

5. Gearbox: To change gear in a manual vehicle, press the clutch pedal to disengage it, then release it progressively after selecting the gear.

• Low gear (First): Low speed with greater torque at the wheels; excessive engine speed increases consumption.
• High gear (Fifth or sixth): Less torque multiplication and lower engine speed at the same road speed; use a suitable gear without making the engine labour.

6. Turn signals: After performing a manoeuvre, they should be turned off.

7. Brakes:

• Service (foot brake): Acts on all 4 wheels
• Parking (hand brake): Usually acts on the rear wheels

4. Groups at risk of accidents

YOUNG DRIVERS:

• Limited experience can increase the risk of a serious accident
• Less experience and perception of risk
• Alcohol and drugs further increase the risk
• Excessive speed increases the risk
• Failure to respect traffic rules increases the risk
• Take particular care at night, at dawn and on leisure journeys, when fatigue and alcohol may add to the risk

ELDERLY DRIVERS:

• They are more likely to have accidents caused by the loss of their physical and mental faculties
• Visual/auditory field is smaller, and mobility is less accurate
• They consume more medication
• They are more sensitive to complicated traffic situations

PEDESTRIANS:

• In the city, hitting pedestrians are the accidents which produce the most victims
• The elderly and children are the most vulnerable
• They may cross unexpectedly or misjudge traffic; anticipate this possibility
• You should never give signals for them to cross

CHILDREN:

• Not familiar with road rules and this causes them to get hit more often
• Short stature limits their peripheral visual field
• May have difficulty locating the source of traffic sounds
• Confuse seeing with being seen
• The height of most vehicles makes the car strike them on the head in an accident

CYCLISTS:

• Interurban traffic poses particular risks because of higher vehicle speeds
• Take particular care at junctions and when overtaking cyclists
• Anticipate changes of direction and authorised contraflow cycling
• Avoid giving them acoustic signals (so as not to startle them)
• Wearing a helmet reduces the risk and severity of head injury

MOPEDS AND MOTORCYCLES:

• The responsibility for accidents is shared with the other vehicle drivers
• Injuries can be severe because riders have little physical protection in a collision
• They are less stable, more fragile and less visible
• Wearing a helmet reduces the risk and severity of head injury