New ‘2+1’ Road Sign: One Slip Costs €200 And 4 Points

Spain’s roadworthy web is getting a quiet upgrade this summertime – and 1 caller road sign is already catching drivers out. It’s nan S-1c ‘Carretera 2+1’ panel, and if you dainty it for illustration immoderate aged three-lane road, you could beryllium €200 lighter and up to 4 licence points down. Here’s what it really means, why nan DGT is rolling it out, and really to usage it without gifting distant your points.

What Spain’s ‘Carretera 2+1’ really means

Think of a 2+1 roadworthy arsenic a clever halfway location betwixt a azygous carriageway and a full-blown dual carriageway. You’ve sewage 3 lanes successful total: 1 successful each guidance and a centre lane that alternates betwixt nan 2 flows of postulation to alteration safe, regulated overtaking.

The S-1c motion flags nan commencement of 1 of these stretches (you mightiness besides spot it connected a ramp starring onto a 2+1). It’s a achromatic rectangular sheet that virtually sounds “CARRETERA 2+1” pinch a elemental sketch showing nan mediate lane arsenic reversible. Once you’re connected nan section, nan roadworthy markings do nan dense lifting: surgery lines and arrows bespeak erstwhile nan centre lane belongs to you, while coagulated lines and lane-drop markings show you hands disconnected — it’s reserved for oncoming traffic.

Why bother? Because head-on crashes stay nan deadliest type of collision connected accepted roads. By creating predictable overtaking windows — particularly connected agelong hills aliases engaged azygous carriageways — nan DGT tin trim risky passes without nan costs and land-take of building a motorway.

How to usage nan centre lane without losing points

Here’s nan portion galore drivers get wrong: nan centre lane is not a prize accelerated lane. It’s borrowed space, disposable only erstwhile nan markings and signs opportunity so, and it’s only for nan overtake itself.

• Enter nan centre lane only erstwhile it’s unfastened to your direction. You’ll spot surgery lines and directional arrows (and, connected immoderate sections, signals/gantries).
• Overtake decisively, past move backmost to nan right-hand lane. Cruising successful nan mediate is simply a no-go.
• Respect coagulated lines and immoderate ‘flip’ markings that adjacent nan lane to your broadside – that’s nan handover to oncoming traffic.
• Keep nan basics tight: mirror–signal–manoeuvre, capable visibility, safe pursuing distance. If nan window’s closing, wantonness nan pass.

The penalties: misuse tin beryllium logged arsenic a superior infringement. Expect €200 and up to 4 points if you invade nan centre lane erstwhile it isn’t assigned to you aliases you complete an illegal/dangerous overtake against nan markings. If you unit oncoming postulation to brake aliases swerve, you’re practically asking for nan maximum punishment — and worse.

Common mistakes nan constabulary support seeing

• Treating nan mediate lane for illustration a imperishable 3rd lane because postulation feels slow.
• Starting a walk arsenic nan allocation flips, past straddling coagulated lines to decorativeness it.
• Hesitating mid-overtake and lingering successful nan centre lane. If you can’t complete safely, backmost retired early and effort again erstwhile nan lane returns to your side.

Where you’ll spot it and why nan DGT is adding more

You’ll chiefly meet 2+1 sections connected interurban routes wherever a motorway upgrade isn’t realistic but postulation volumes — aliases agelong gradients — warrant other overtaking capacity. Expect nan S-1c motion astatine nan commencement of each alternating stretch, past repetition signage wherever nan allocation changes direction. On hilly corridors, nan shape often gives nan uphill broadside nan centre lane first, past hands it backmost for nan adjacent segment.

The DGT’s broader refresh of nan motion catalogue is astir clarity and consistency: simpler visuals, amended visibility, and layouts that expect e-scooters, bikes and modern traffic. The 2+1 conception fits that push – it adds safety without monolithic construction, shortens queues down slow movers, and reduces nan enticement for sketchy overtakes connected azygous carriageways.

So, erstwhile you spot “CARRETERA 2+1”, publication nan markings, dainty nan centre lane arsenic reversible, and usage it only for a cleanable overtake earlier tucking backmost in. Do it correct and everyone gets past safely. Do it incorrect and you’ve conscionable bought yourself a €200 measure and up to 4 mislaid points — nan astir costly fewer 100 metres you’ll thrust each week.

Stay tuned pinch Euro Weekly News for nan latest news from Spain