This year brings five changes to road-usage norms being brought into being by the Dirección General de Tráfico.

1. Radars: the Traffic Department is going to crack down on drivers who take measures to dodge speed traps with radar detection devices. Just having one in your car, even if it is turned off will mean a 200-euro fine and three points off your licence.
2. Mobile usage: a similar tougher stance will be taken with those drivers caught using a mobile phone whilst driving. Now you don’t have to have it up against your ear; even if you have just got it in your hand, you are looking at 500 euros and six points off.
3. Speeding: the new speed limit in towns is 30kph and not 50kph, except if it is where there are two lanes in either direction. Any street within the town where pedestrians are on the same level as traffic, separated by bollards, for example, the maximum speed in 20kph. (e.g. The centre of Motril)
4. Seatbelts: The fine for not wearing a seatbelt will be four points off the driver’s licence (up until now it has been three points) as well as a 200-euro fine.
5. Overtaking: the big difference this year is that you will not be able to exceed the speed limit by 20kph in order to overtake on B-roads. In other words, you will not be able to go at 110kph in order to overtake a car on a B-road, which now have a maximum speed limit of 90 – if the driver in front is already doing 90, they you must stay behind. While for drivers from other countries this will come as no surprise as it has long been not allowed, here in Spain (the only country in Europe where it was permitted) this will come as a big change.

(News: Spain)