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What it is

Ground rules for Spain's new traffic and road safety law

BOE step 7 of 7 · Passed

It is a government bill. Introduced by the Government. It was introduced on 30 December 1988. Introduced by: GOBIERNO.

Official title: GOVERNMENT BILL ON THE BASIC LAW ON TRAFFIC, CIRCULATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES, AND ROAD SAFETY.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 121/000105· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. The Government is authorized to approve, within one year, a single consolidated text with the rules on traffic, motor vehicle circulation and road safety, replacing the 1934 Traffic Code. It must follow the principles and criteria set out in this law's bases.
  2. Powers are divided between the State and local authorities, and among the State's own bodies. To coordinate them, a Superior Council on Traffic and Road Safety is created as an advisory body with representatives of the administrations and of organizations related to traffic.
  3. Traffic rules and road signs must follow the Vienna and Geneva international conventions. A priority order for signs is set (agents first, then barriers, traffic lights, vertical signs and road markings), and prior administrative authorization is required to drive, operate vehicles and teach driving.
  4. Offenses are classified as minor, serious or very serious, with fines of up to 15,000, 50,000 and 100,000 pesetas respectively. Serious and very serious offenses can also bring a driving license suspension of up to three months. Proceedings start with a citation, the person must be heard first, and offenses expire after two months.

Who it affects

  • Drivers: Must drive carefully, avoid substances that impair their abilities and submit to detection tests. They can face fines and license suspension.
  • Vehicle owners: Are liable for offenses involving documents and technical conditions, and must identify the driver when an offense occurs.
  • Pedestrians and road users: Rights and duties are set for all users of public roads.
  • Public administrations: The State and local authorities share powers and must cooperate with each other.

Words worth knowing

Ley de Bases (framework law)
A law that sets only general principles and criteria; the Government later develops the detailed rules.
Decreto Legislativo (legislative decree)
A rule the Government approves when the Cortes (parliament) delegate that power to it.
Medidas cautelares (interim measures)
Temporary decisions, such as suspending a permit or removing a vehicle, while a proceeding is being resolved.
Prescribir (to lapse)
That an offense or sanction can no longer be enforced after a certain time.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 7 of 7 steps. It reached BOE, and today it is passed.

  1. Introduced30 December 1988Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted9 January 1989The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendmentsno dateGroups propose changes.
  4. Committeeno dateA committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenaryno dateAll 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senateno dateThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOEno dateIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 2 official steps on a timeline
Dec 198811. 30 December 1988: Presentación22. 9 January 1989: Calificación

Was there a plenary vote?

We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.

What happens next

What happens now?

It is law, or will be once published in the BOE. It comes into force on the date its own text sets.

Published in the BOE: Law 18/1989, of July 25, on the Basic Rules for Traffic, Circulation of Motor Vehicles, and Road Safety.

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

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