Articles
The New Driving Licence Penalty Points System
The new penalty points system was implemented on July 1st of 2006,
signifying an important change in the sanctioning system with respect
to driving, circulation of vehicles and road safety.
Here is a summary of the new traffic legislation in Spain based on the
new "points" system:
From now on there will be three main categories of drivers:
"Normal" - 12 points
"New drivers" - drivers with less than 3 years experience - 8 points
"Veterans" - drivers who have lost all their points and have got a new
licence - 8 points.
How to win back points:
If drivers successfully complete a course of "sensibilización and
reeducación" they will be awarded 4 points.
If drivers drive for three years without committing any breach of
conduct they will win back all their points.
Points lost for bad driving:
Drivers lose 6 points for:
• Driving under the influence of alcohol (>0,75 mg/l).
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Refusing to undergo breath tests
• Driving in the wrong direction
• Driving in unauthorised races or competitions
• Dangerous driving
• Driving vehicles which are not permitted on motorways
• Speeding over 50% or 30 km over the authorised speed limit
Drivers lose 4 points for:
• Driving under the influence of alcohol ((0,25-0,75 mg/l)
• Driving a vehicle with too many passengers (50% more than the
authorised limit)
• Driving in parallel with other vehicles
• Driving a vehicle with no registration plate
• Driving a vehicle which has not passed its MOT
• Driving irresponsibly
• Speeding (over 40-50 km the limit)
• Failing to respect right of way
• Failing to respect a STOP sign
• Failing to respect overtaking laws
• Changing direction in dangerous situations, such as tunnels,
junctions, motorways and roads where overtaking is forbidden.
• Reversing on motorways
• Accelerating to prevent other vehicles from overtaking
• Overtaking on bends or when visibility is reduced
• Failure to obey traffic police
• Failure to obey traffic lights.
Drivers lose 3 points for:
• Speeding
• Not respecting distances with vehicles in front
• Driving without lights
• Driving with lights which dazzle other drivers
• Driving while using other devices which prevent the driver from
paying full attention to driving (e.g. mobile telephones)
• Stopping or parking in bends, areas with reduced visibility, tunnels,
junctions, dangerous areas or areas which present other drivers with
difficulties
Drivers lose 2 points for:
• Stopping or parking in: places which make it more difficult for other
vehicles to turn; urban areas where lack of visibility represents
danger; tram lines; places which make it difficult for other drivers to
see road signs; lanes reserved for public transport
• Driving vehicles which have mechanisms installed aimed at avoiding
police controls
• Not obeying rules of overtaking other vehicles (even if other drivers
are not put at risk)
• Changing direction or reversing against traffic rules
• Driving without wearing seatbelts, helmets or other compulsory
protective devices (driver or passengers),
• Riding motorbikes with underage passengers (12 years) without
permission
TO CHECK OUR POINTS BALANCE:
This can be done on the official page of the DGT (Dirección General de
Tráfico) at: www.dgt.es
FOREIGN DRIVERS:
Those foreigners holding Spanish driving licences and those with
foreign licences that have been ratified in Spain will be penalized on
the points system for any driving infractions. However, foreigners may
circulate on Spanish roads with their licences of origin and will not
be subject to the new points system.
Thousands of foreigners are now living in areas like the Costa del Sol
and every day there are hundreds of tourists renting cars on arrival in
Spain.