What is that red line that has started appearing on some Spanish roads?
The DGT has recently introduced new road marking between lanes to enhance safety
Never one to rest on its laurels, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has introduced a new road marking to enhance road safety and reduce accidents. This new marking, a thick red line on the asphalt between two lanes going in different directions, has been implemented for the first time in Spain to reinforce traffic regulations.The reasoning for this new road marking is that traffic accidents remain a major concern in Spain, with 1,154 fatalities recorded on the roads. The DGT is always trying to implement more new safety measures, including speed radars, increased traffic lights and enhanced surveillance.
The latest addition to these efforts is the red line marking, which has caught many drivers by surprise, much like the previous introduction of green markings on certain traffic signs and the road markings specifically designed for motorcycle users.
The first red line has been painted on the A-355 in Málaga, a notorious 10-kilometre stretch between Marbella and Cártama, sometimes referred to as the ‘road of fear’ due to its high accident rate. The red line serves as a highly visible reinforcement of the no-overtaking rule, which was already indicated by a double continuous line, but has now been made doubly clear to drivers in a wat that is visual and obvious.
What’s more, failure to respect this no-overtaking rule could result in fines of up to 400 euros and the loss of points from the driver’s licence.
Also of interest: Spain driving licence penalty points explained
The DGT plans to extend the use of red lines to other high-risk roads across Spain. Madrid, for instance, has already introduced red and white stripes on some of its roads due to the high traffic density.
Additionally, other accident-prevention measures include the installation of stretch radars, such as the one with a maximum speed limit of 100kmh on a Valencian road, and the relocation of numerous radars last year to combat speeding.
With these new initiatives, the DGT continues to prioritise road safety, aiming to reduce the number of fatalities and serious accidents on Spanish roads.
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Image: Junta de Andalucía
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