Caught Out By Spain’s Empty Road Sign? Here’s What It Means – And Why It Could Cost You €200

Most of america deliberation we’re beautiful clued-up erstwhile it comes to roadworthy signs. Red intends stop, greenish intends go, zebra crossings mean slow down for nan granny pinch nan shopping trolley. Easy, right? But if you’ve ever driven successful Spain, you mightiness person noticed a alternatively mysterious motion popping up – a elemental achromatic circle pinch a reddish border, and thing inside. No arrow, nary bike, nary car, just… empty.

And you wouldn’t beryllium unsocial if you recovered yourself scratching your head, wondering what connected world it really means.

As it turns out, this “empty” roadworthy motion is 1 of nan astir misunderstood connected Spanish roads, and it’s catching retired Brits, expats, and moreover plentifulness of locals. Worse still, getting it incorrect isn’t conscionable embarrassing – it could time off you €200 poorer and a fewer points lighter connected your driving licence.

So what’s nan communicative down this cryptic sign? And really tin you debar a very costly mistake?

Empty roadworthy motion successful Spain: What drivers request to know

First things first: what does it really mean? This “empty” motion is officially known arsenic nan R-100 successful Spain’s roadworthy rulebook, and it stands for 1 point and 1 point only: perfectly nary introduction for vehicles, afloat stop. Not for cars, not for vans, not moreover for electrical scooters aliases bikes – unless you’ve sewage a typical exemption.

It’s nan benignant of motion you’ll often spot astatine nan entranceway to pedestrian zones, constrictive streets successful aged municipality centres, aliases roads that are sometimes closed disconnected to postulation for markets, festivals, aliases erstwhile location are conscionable excessively galore visitors wandering about.
You mightiness spot it adjacent schools astatine pick-up and drop-off times, aliases successful those lovely, cobbled plazas wherever café tables spill retired onto nan street.

The problem? To nan untrained eye, it’s each excessively easy to correction it for thing little important – a motion that doesn’t look to opportunity thing astatine all. But make nary mistake: if you thrust past it, you’re connected nan incorrect broadside of nan law.

What happens if you disregard it? More than conscionable an awkward moment…

Now, you mightiness beryllium thinking, “Surely they’re not that strict?” But Spain’s postulation authorities return this motion – and roadworthy information successful wide – highly seriously.
The rule is crystal clear: if you’re caught driving past nan “empty” motion without permission, you’re looking astatine an on-the-spot good of up to €200, and you could besides suffer points connected your driving licence. Doesn’t matter if you’re successful a rental car, your ain group of wheels, aliases moreover pootling on connected an electrical scooter. The norm applies to everyone.

The purpose isn’t to drawback group retired for nan liking of it, but to protect areas wherever vehicles simply aren’t safe aliases wanted. Think engaged shopping streets connected a Saturday, constrictive lanes filled pinch children connected nan measurement to school, aliases historical centres wherever a bad boy transportation van could sound complete much than conscionable a fewer flowerpots.

Local constabulary person heard each nan excuses: “But location was nary writing!” aliases “I thought it meant thing else.” Sadly, not knowing what nan motion intends isn’t an excuse that will get you disconnected nan hook – moreover for visitors and expats who mightiness beryllium utilized to wholly different roadworthy rules backmost home.

The Spanish roadworthy motion rulebook: It’s each astir hierarchy

Here’s different quirk that trips up newcomers: Spanish roadworthy signs travel a very circumstantial hierarchy. It’s not ever astir what’s biggest aliases brightest – it’s astir who (or what) has nan last say.

At nan very apical are nan postulation police. If an officer’s waving you done (or waving you to a halt), their instructions trump everything else, moreover if a ray is greenish aliases a motion says stop.

Next up are impermanent signs – nan benignant you spot for roadworks, festivals, aliases sporting events. They’re often propped up connected cones aliases stands and tin override regular roadworthy signs aliases markings.

Then you’ve sewage postulation lights, followed by nan fixed vertical signs (like our infamous R-100 “empty” circle), and finally, nan painted lines and arrows connected nan roadworthy itself.

So if you ever spot what looks for illustration a contradiction – possibly nan roadworthy overgarment says go, but nan motion says nary – ever travel nan highest-priority instruction. And if successful doubt, play it safe and presume you shouldn’t spell through.

Why it’s worthy knowing – moreover if you’re conscionable visiting

It mightiness sound for illustration overkill, but knowing nan meaning of moreover nan simplest roadworthy signs tin prevention you a batch of grief. More Spanish towns are making their centres car-free, and that quiet red-and-white motion is popping up everyplace from Alicante to Seville.
Whether you’re surviving successful Spain aliases conscionable hiring a car for a fortnight successful nan sun, it pays to support your eyes peeled.

And it’s not conscionable astir avoiding fines. These rules are designed to support pedestrians safe and metropolis centres pleasant for everyone. A spot of be aware – and a spot of homework earlier you group disconnected – goes a agelong way.

So adjacent clip you’re driving successful Spain and spot that mysterious “empty” sign, you’ll cognize precisely what to do: stop, move around, and find different way. Your wallet – and your driving licence – will convey you for it.

Stay tuned pinch Euro Weekly News for much news from Spain