Today’s Looking Back article deals with a confusing traffic-light set up in Almuñécar, which was producing quite a few traffic fines. That’s the one on the P-4 junction.

The fact is that the bleeding-in light added to the right of the three vertical lights is still there 10 years later, as it the triangular give-way sign. The surface markings are for a stop; i.e. ‘halt for three seconds and proceed if clear.’

If you look at the bleed-in arrangement on the opposite side of the main road, you will see the same set up – the only difference is that the bleed-in light works.

Having passed my driving test in Spain I remember the Spanish Highway Code referring to road signs thus:

First Priority: policeman controlling traffic or workmen on roadworks directing traffic.
Second Priority: luminous traffic signs (traffic lights).
Third Priority: Vertical signs.
Fourth Priority: Horizontal signs (road-surface markings).

This priority system indicates which instructions you have to follow if they are giving conflicting information; i.e., it doesn’t matter if you have a green (Second Priority) if a policeman (First Priority) is signalling for  you to stay put.

And that works all the way down. So, in this case, ten years ago, the bleed-in light appeared to have stopped working, so drivers obeyed the give-way sign (Third Priority) and moved out, even though the main lights were in red. But, just up from the road was always a patrol car, fining the paintwork off of any car that did so.

It appeared to be a trap, plain and simply, because the bleed-in light should have been completely removed, leaving drivers in no doubt that the normal set of traffic lights in red meant, stop until you got a green. You would only obey the vertical give way, if the lights were not functioning.

What had led to this situation was that there had been a series of accidents where drivers had seen the flashing bleed-in light and had moved out without checking, or misjudging the speed of the oncoming car, so the DGT and Ministry of Roads decided to do away with the give-way light… without bothering to remove it.

Amazingly, ten years later, the bloody ‘redundant’ bleed-in light is still firmly attached to the traffic-light pole

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)