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4 August 2005
MADRID – Drivers using mobile phones or failing to wear a seatbelt can expect Spanish police to mete out stiffer fines under a change to the law.
The government has decided to reform the road safety law in a bid to crack down on dangerous driving and reduce the large number of accidents which take place on the country’s roads.
New legislation comes into force partially on 10 August.
It will see offences like not wearing a seatbelt re-designated as “serious”, meaning they are eligible for fines of up to EUR 300.
Other offences which will be considered “serious” in the future will be motorcyclists not wearing their helmets, children not travelling in child seats and individuals driving with an expired driving licence or in a car that has not passed its Technical Inspection (ITV).
Some offences have also been reclassified as “very serious”, such as driving without the necessary licence, and will carry fines of up to EUR 600.
The new law also states that when drivers have their licences suspended for serious offences the minimum punishment time is a month. At the moment, drivers can have their licences suspended for just a few days.
The system is also to get tougher on those who drive despite being banned, with stiffer penalties available.
These are the first measures in a series of reforms. Within a year, the government also intends introducing the point system operated in other countries, whereby drivers receive points on their licence for traffic offences and when they accumulate points they face an automatic ban.
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]
Subject: Spanish news