Chapter 2: Use of Public Roads

2.1 Parts of the road

Carriageway (UK)/Roadway (USA): All cars and special vehicles over 3500kg will drive on a carriageway/roadway.

Hard Shoulder: The following are required to use the hard shoulder:

Special vehicles 3500kg or less
2-wheeled and 3-wheeled mopeds and light quadricycles
Cycles
Pedestrians and animals
Vehicles for people with reduced mobility
Those driving in an emergency, disrupting circulation, up to 3500kg

Note: Two cyclists side by side may travel on either the shoulder or the roadway, except on motorways, where they are not permitted to travel at all.

Parts of the road

Standards of conduct, prohibitions:

Throwing objects on the road
Driving with unapproved tinted glass
Using the phone without hands-free
Wearing headphones while driving
Using DVD, internet or monitors except the GPS system
Driving with noise levels above those permitted
Releasing more exhaust through the exhaust pipe (UK) / tail pipe (USA) than allowed
Driving without an exhaust silencer(UK) / muffler(USA)
When refuelling: stop the engine, disconnect the electrical systems and switch off mobile phones

2.2 Vehicle traffic

Interurban roads: Located outside built-up areas, drive in the right lane as a general rule.

3-lane two-way interurban road: Travel is in the right lane, to overtake and change directions to the left, the centre lane may be used.
3-lane one-way interurban road: Travel is on the right and you can use the other lanes when needed, except for vehicles with trailers longer than 7m and trucks over 3500kg, which may not use the lane farthest to the left.

Urban roads: Located in a built-up-areas (including cross-town roads), travel is in the lane that best suits the destination.

Motorway (autopista)	Dual Carriageway (autovía)
No hitchhiking Mopeds, pedestrians, animals, and cyclists may not enter In case of emergency, use the next exit	No hitchhiking Mopeds, pedestrians and animals may not enter Cyclists may enter if over age 14 In case of emergency, use the next exit

2.3 Special lanes:

RAS
Obligations	Reversible	Additional	Opposite-Direction
Headlights day and night	YES	YES	YES
Speed between 60-80 km/h	NO	YES	YES
All cars may enter except cars with trailers. ALL may enter because of construction	NO	NO	YES

The initials of each special lane form the word RAO. The first obligation is lighting, the second is speed, and the third is access restriction.

Reversible: Usually located in a built-up area, they are marked by lane traffic lights and double dashed road markings.

Additional: This lane can be used by all vehicles except those required to travel on the hard shoulder. The speed and lighting rules apply to all vehicles travelling on the carriageway/roadway.

Opposite direction: This lane does not allow: overtaking, moving to the side or crossing the imaginary line formed by cones

VAO Lane: High occupancy vehicle lane:

Can be used by:

Cars, adaptable mixed vehicles, and motorcycles up to 3500kg and carrying the number of occupants indicated by the signage
Priority emergency service vehicles
Vehicles for people with reduced mobility