5 ways pedestrians in Spain can get hit with road traffic fines

It’s not just drivers in Spain that can be dealt hefty fines for failing to following the rules of the road

Here in Spain, pedestrians as well as motorists are expected to comply with the rules set out in the Traffic and Road Safety Law, and even seemingly innocent transgressions can lead to fines of a couple of hundred euros.

According to the DGT, a pedestrian is considered to be a “person who, without being a driver, travels on foot on public roads”.

Here are the 5 most common reasons fines are handed out to pedestrians in Spain:

1. Failing to use a pedestrian crossing

Under Traffic Law, it’s mandatory for people on foot to use zebra crossings, both for their own safety and that of other road users. Failing to use a pedestrian crossing could land you with a fine of 100 euros.

2. Walking on motorways or dual carriageways

It’s obviously a huge risk to walk along these high-speed, high-capacity roads and pedestrians will again be fined 100 euros if caught. The exception is if there has been an accident, breakdown or other kind of emergency, in which case the proper safety gear, such as high-vis jackets, must be worn.

3. Walking on the right-hand side of the road

This may seem like a strange one, but it’s rooted in logic. Pedestrians walking on the road in urban areas must always walk on the left so that they can see oncoming vehicles, and other drivers can clearly see them. If people walk on the right-hand side, cars are approaching from behind, which makes it harder to spot any danger. The fine for non-compliance is 100 euros.

4. Not wearing a reflective vest

As mentioned above, people are only allowed to walk on motorways or highways in an emergency and then, it’s mandatory to wear a high-visibility reflective vest at all times. This goes for everyone in the car, not just the driver, and failure to wear one will cost 200 euros.

5. Crossing at a red light

Just as vehicles have to stop at a red light, the DGT reminds pedestrians that at zebra crossings, a red light also means that they have to stay put until it switches to green. Dashing across the road when the light is red can lead to a fine of 200 euros.

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Image: Freepik

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