Filtering in Spain - the terrible truth!
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2017 7:07 am
From WillS's recent experience
You can overtake - or filter if you like - as long as you don't cross the solid white line. BUT you must leave a 1.5 metre gap between yourself and the vehicle you are overtaking - NB that is from your outermost extremity (don't forget your panniers!) and that of the vehicle - a real bummer with a caravan towing car with mirror extensions ...
Here's the rule:
"85.5. El conductor de un vehículo de dos ruedas que pretenda adelantar fuera de poblado a otro cualquiera lo hará de forma que entre aquél y las partes más salientes del vehículo que adelanta quede un espacio no inferior a 1,50 metros."
And in 'Google' English:
"85.5. The driver of a two-wheeled vehicle that intends to pass out of town to another person* shall do so in such a way that between the one and the most prominent parts of the vehicle that advances**, there is a space of not less than 1.50 metres."
* that's a bad translation for overtake
** that's an equally bad translation of a word that is more commonly used
The rule is specific to two wheeled vehicles so I presume cars can cut you up with alacrity - they certainly do it to me often enough ...
Interesting that the rule specified out of town locations, i.e. the highway. I wonder if municipalities have their own by-laws?
Regs
Simon
PS Will describes being fined €100 each but in fact the fine is €200 but because they had a credit card machine in the pannier they got the 50% discount for early payment- So all those Urban Myth stories of being frog marched by enraged Guardia Civil to the nearest ATM to cough up the cash usually mean they're trying to help you ...
You can overtake - or filter if you like - as long as you don't cross the solid white line. BUT you must leave a 1.5 metre gap between yourself and the vehicle you are overtaking - NB that is from your outermost extremity (don't forget your panniers!) and that of the vehicle - a real bummer with a caravan towing car with mirror extensions ...
Here's the rule:
"85.5. El conductor de un vehículo de dos ruedas que pretenda adelantar fuera de poblado a otro cualquiera lo hará de forma que entre aquél y las partes más salientes del vehículo que adelanta quede un espacio no inferior a 1,50 metros."
And in 'Google' English:
"85.5. The driver of a two-wheeled vehicle that intends to pass out of town to another person* shall do so in such a way that between the one and the most prominent parts of the vehicle that advances**, there is a space of not less than 1.50 metres."
* that's a bad translation for overtake
** that's an equally bad translation of a word that is more commonly used
The rule is specific to two wheeled vehicles so I presume cars can cut you up with alacrity - they certainly do it to me often enough ...
Interesting that the rule specified out of town locations, i.e. the highway. I wonder if municipalities have their own by-laws?
Regs
Simon
PS Will describes being fined €100 each but in fact the fine is €200 but because they had a credit card machine in the pannier they got the 50% discount for early payment- So all those Urban Myth stories of being frog marched by enraged Guardia Civil to the nearest ATM to cough up the cash usually mean they're trying to help you ...