Speak the Culture: Spain: Be Fluent in Spanish Life and Culture

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1. Identity: the
   building blocks of
   2. Literature
   and philosophy
   3. Art and
   architecture
   4. Performing
   arts
   5. Cinema
   and fashion
   6. Media and
   communications
   7. Food and drink 8. Living culture:
   the details of

Spanish highways

Spain has a comprehensive, improving road network.

The best routes are theautopistas: tolled, virtually

empty motorways on which few Spaniards seem willing

to spend out.Autovías(A) are dual carriageways and

invariably free.Nacional(N) roads are also free and,

thus, often jammed, whilecomarcales(C), regional

and local routes, offer more parochial travel and the

excitement that potholes can bring to motoring. Good

luck if you happen to find yourself driving around a city

centre, particularly Madrid. Narrow streets, chaotic

parking and impatient drivers can make for a white-

knuckle ride.

Driven to distraction: habits on the roads

Most Spaniards drive sensibly, but some become

positively matadorial behind the wheel. He’s not driving

that close to your bumper because he’s in a hurry; it’s

a matter of personal honour. Any sign of weakness –

hesitation at a roundabout or a tentative hill start – will

probably usher a rant of horn blowing from behind.

But surprisingly, genuine road rage in Spain is fairly rare

• selfish feats of derring-do usually stir indifference
  (even admiration), not tantrums. It’s worth noting that
  fines for bad parking, mobile phone use, drink driving
  and other offences are often strictly enforced in urban
  areas. Driving in the countryside is somewhat less
  stressful, even enjoyable on uncluttered roads, unless
  you meet someone overtaking on a blind bend of
  course. It’s at its worst during the holidays. In 2006 over
  100 people died on the roads in the week-long Semana
  Santa break, while 158 were killed in the first two
  weeks of August 2007. Happy motoring.

Motorways
120km/hr

Dual carriageway
100km/hr

Country roads
90km/hr

Built up areas
50km/hr

12 people a day die
on Spain’s roads.
The majority are men in
their mid 20s to 30s.

Farruquito’s hit and run
In 2005 Farruquito,
flamencodancing’s own
boy wonder, was
convicted of careless
driving and failure to
stop after knocking down
and killing a pedestrian
in Seville. He received a
16-month jail sentence
but was spared prison
because he had no
previous form.

Speed limits

6.2.2 Spain on the move: transport systems and habits