Story: CAROLINE HOLMES, IAM

Driving around Spain has been revolutionised during the last 15 years or so. It’s now perfectly realistic to pop down there and congratulate them on winning That Cup.

If you read about driving in Italy you’ll know that there are few precautions you should take before going all this way. Like Rome, Madrid is 1200 miles away making a round trip of at least 3000 miles (unless you take the ferry to Santander). So do the sensible thing and check that your car doesn’t need a service, and your tyres are up to it.

What are the roads like?

Spain’s network of roads has been transformed over the last 20 years or so with huge investments in infrastructure as a whole, and the motorways – Autopista – in particular. The toll roads – Autopista de Peajes – are excellent and with the exception of the E15 which follows the Mediterranean coast, pretty quiet. It’s a big country, and most of its 47 million people live around Madrid or near the coast. Head into the middle, and you’ll have the place to yourself.

• The mway speed limit is back to 120kph after the 110 limit imposed last year to conserve fuel was lifted

They’re bang up-to-date with speed limiting technology too, and expect an on-the-spot fine if you are tempted to put your foot down in all that emptiness. As elsewhere in Europe, radar detection devices, and Satnavs doing the same job, are illegal.

Leave the Autopista and you may still encounter some pretty rough surfaces.

Another peculiarity is that some of the older dual-carriageways have no on/off ramps as we know them – it’s more like a T-junction. Keep your eyes pealed, and get smartly up to speed once you’ve pulled out!

Things to remember

By law, foreign tourists only need one warning triangle but I recommend carrying two. La Policia like their on-the-spot fines and in an accident or breakdown may impose a fine if only one is produced,  since two is the law for Spaniards. If you do break down, place your warning triangles in front of and behind the car. Motorbikes don’t need them at all.

While it isn’t mandatory to carry a reflective jacket in the vehicle, and as a foreign motorist you can’t be fined for it, you must wear one if you get out of the car at a breakdown on a motorway or main road. You must also carry a spare tyre, or a tyre repair kit and the equipment to change the tyre.

As with most of Europe, the drink drive limit is lower in Spain. Bear this in mind and if you’re going to drive, just don’t drink. New drivers are effectively forbidden to drink and drive, with a very low limit of just 10mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

Parking in many towns is controlled by blue zones (zonas azul) where a disc must be displayed. Never park on main roads with continuous white lines along the edge.

Always carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5), and insurance certificate. If your licence does not incorporate a photograph, carry your passport to validate the licence. If the vehicle is not registered in your name, carry a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to drive.

Only fully hands-free phone systems are allowed – the use of earpieces or headphones while driving is banned. If you do use any of this equipment you face a fine of €200.

A few odd ones

• If you wear glasses, you should keep a spare pair in the car believe it or not.
• Always indicate when you change lanes – including pulling back in.
• Never enter a road by crossing a solid white line – wait for the dotted bits.
• Don’t use your horn in a built-up area unless there’s real danger.
• Children under 12 must travel in the back.

As always, check that your business car insurance is valid in all the countries you visit. And let your business car manager know where you’re going, even if you do own the business.