Driving in Fuerteventura - Tips and Driving Laws
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- If you are coming to Fuerteventura on holiday the best way to see the island is by hiring a car. But many shy away from it because they have never driven on the "wrong side of the road" before.
It isn't something to worry about and there is probably no better place to do it. The roads are well made, there is very little traffic and the road signs are good.
there are a few specific driving laws to know about such as driving in flip flops, driving with your arm out of the window, driving without a shirt on and others.
I have written two articles that may be of help when driving on the right for the first time and how to drive a left hand drive car:
Driving in Fuerteventura - www.jpinfuerteventura.com/dri...
Renting a car in Fuerteventura - www.jpinfuerteventura.com/dri...
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Great advice JP. Very helpful for me in the near future hopefully. 😎👍
I'm glad it was useful. Thanks for watching David.
Hiya JP, very informative. Thank you for sharing. I love your picture behind you. Have a great week. Take care.
It does give the otherwise very white room some colour. Thanks for watching Nicky.
Thanks for the tips JP 👍
Thanks for watching Paul.
Good advice JP. Have driven a few times there and learned a lot from your experiences. Thank you. Denis
Thanks for watching Denis
Thanks for the tips, very useful. You are looking very well and healthy
I have lost 22lbs in the past 2.5 months by dieting Lucy. Thanks for watching.
Great film, excellent information, thank you.
Thanks for watching Chris.
Hey JP, we’ve been to fuerteventura many times, and are going again in July for 5 weeks, but these tips are invaluable as we always hire a car. Thanks very much!
If I was a police officer and I came across a topless lady driver, I’d probably only question her for an hour or two before telling her to take care and stay safe 👍🍀
lol Thanks for watching Liam.
I love driving in Fuerte JP and always hire a car from the airport .... but I wasn't aware about the laws on flip flops and driving topless ... thanks for pointing that one out!!
You are welcome Alistair. Thanks for watching.
Some good advice, thank you. I remember only to well visiting Mount Teide in the 80s and then driving off on the wrong side of the road, which had no centre markings. Drove down through several hairpin corners and luckily a bus took the hairpin I was on and I only saw it because it was taller than a car. I wouldn't be here if it had been a car. Scared myself so much it was a full decade later before I hired a car again. A stupid mistake but so easy to do.
It is easy to do if you get distracted Mark. Thankfully it worked out ok for you. Thanks for watching Mark.
Great advice JP 👍🏻👏🏻
Thanks Stevie
Thanks for info never knew about arm out of window or flipflops but it makes sense,fuerteventura is great place to learn to drive on wrong side of the road there is nothing to complicated,my wife and I often get in the wrong car doors on holiday,keep smiling jp
It is easily done Bob. Thanks for watching.
Excellent advice JP. We’re planning to hire a car for a couple of days when we come back to Fuerte so very useful!
Have fun Martin. Thanks for watching.
Hi J.P. Very useful information. The one about getting in the wrong side of the car.i have done this a few times myself.and sat there thinking what a knob. But the minute or two having a look in the glove box then getting out and going to the drivers side saves the embarrassment. 🙄 thanks for sharing
I am glad I am not the only one Paul 😀 Thanks for watching
I agree Fuerteventura is definitely a great place to learn how to drive on the wrong side of the road. I remember feeling a little anxious on the flight over having never attempted it before. Apart from a little confusion at roundabouts (thankfully no accidents!) it was all pretty much smooth sailing, well, driving! It almost felt like taking one of those simulated driving exercises for beginners with the difficulty set on easy! As JP mentions most of the roads seemed pretty empty with few complications in road lay outs. Just felt like driving in a straight line 90% of the time! Another great vid JP thanks!
I'm glad you agree Billy. It is pretty straightforward here. Thanks for watching.
Interesting, thanks for the advice 🙂
I hope it helps. Thanks for watching.
@@JPinFuerteventura It did thank you, especially that advice about round abouts. We actually witnessed a crash on a round about where a lady was in the middle lane and quickly pulled off to exit but a car was already there.
Thanks JP.
Used to drive in Fuerteventura when I came with the family some 12 years ago.Didn't realise you could not drive without a shirt on.As you say a lovely place to drive.
Now I come by myself in winter for 3 week breaks thus car hire is uneconomical.However very impressed by the public transport system.
Always look forward to and enjoy your posts.
The buses are pretty good - the trains aren't so reliable though 😉 Thanks for watching.
I’m going to fuerteventura in an few days I’ve only been driving just over a year and a half and so nervous about driving in a different country, but thank you I’ve watched a couple of your videos and found them so helpful and they have definitely put me at ease and I’ll definitely be hiring a car now 😊
There is no easier place to drive on the wrong side of the road for the first time Vicky. Good luck.
Thanks for the tips sir
I hope they help Chris.
Thabks for a great video! This is so useful, it's made me feel alot more prepared for driving abroad for the first time in Lanzarote (I'm guessing similar rules apply. )
I am glad you found it useful. Yes the rules are the same and the roads will be equally empty although it can be busier on the Arrecife ring road. Good luck.
Enjoyed your video today xxx
Thanks for watching Sandra.
thanks you, I am, like others, nervous about driving on the other side of the road. You have given me some confidence now :)
You can do it. There is no better place to try it for the first time. You may find some more in my blog post - www.jpinfuerteventura.com/driving/driving-in-fuerteventura/ Good luck.
Thanks alot for that ,very interesting, I'll be alot more careful in future, make sure I have a second pair of glasses as well .
Thanks for watching Joyce.
The comment I put on earlier was before I had looked at all of your video which I now have done. Here's a few things I think worth mentioning. Boring it may be but it may save someone a fine.
Regarding speed cameras the Trafico motor cyclists have one which is self contained and they just fix concealed anywhere, not in an unmarked car. This clocks your speed, photographs you and transmits this wirelessly to where they are further down the road. I know this because I was caught with this going along the main FV2 at little over the 60 kph limit as I went past a junction. I got stopped about 1.5 kilometers further down the road where they had a block on and they showed me the record they received. If it wasn't for the fact I got a 100 Euro fine I would have found it quite interesting. Luckily I had slowed from 90 kph down a good bit for the junction so only got a fine not the removal of points.
Ref speed limits, new speed limits have been introduced which in essence mean a 30 kph speed limit on most urban roads and down to 20 kph in some places. The big problem is that, except for covering a few speed limits signs with black plastic, the old 50 and 40 kph signs and road markings still haven't been changed. The Police just expect you to know. So if in doubt don't exceed 30 kph in towns.
Spain have now removed the law that cars and motorcycles may exceed the speed limits on conventional roads by 20 km/h when they pass other vehicles.
From 1st July 2021 it will be illegal on inter urban roads to walk on the road or hard shoulder. You can get fined heavily for this. If you break down you must exit the car from the side nearest the verge, this means usually the driver will have to move across and get out of the passenger side. You still have to put out your two warning triangles which may be difficult if there is no verge as you can't walk on the road. Because of this new warning lights which fit magnetically on the car have been authorised instead of the triangles which are being phased out. If there is no verge you now have to remain in your car with your seat belts on. As I said, heavy fines for not complying with any of this.
Another thing you can be fined for, and indeed a friend got a 100 Euro fine for, is not leaving 1.5 metres clearance when overtaking a cyclist. This is particularly relevant as the island is now a vast training area for cycle racers and triathletes
One last thing, if you are on an inter urban road in the dark and come up to a roundabout or junction you have to dip your headlights. How do I know this, well I once got fined for this as well. It wasn't a scam by the police either because I queried it and he showed me in the traffic laws.
P.S. What makes you think I didn't have a lot to do tonight?
excellent video really interesting thank you and a bit different stay safe take care kirsty 😀
Thanks Kirsty
Right side drive is the right thing ;-) In Sweden did we go over to right hand drive 1967
The old debate ;-) Thanks for watching.
Thanks JP 👍
Thanks for watching Neil
Very helpful thank you for that..we going to corralejo I want hire car but I never ever driving opposite side and what really worry me is roundabout!!
Glad it was helpful Katarina. Just take your time and you will be fine.
Wow wow really good advice my friend, you're saving me a lot of money and problems, thank you very much!!!
I am glad you found it useful
@@JPinFuerteventura Thank you for your answer. Do you have any advice on parking your rented car in the island? Whe I travel to South America I often leave the car at a parking Mall, around 6 € THE 8 Hours.
@@Mr.Altavoz Just park it on a street. I have never paid for parking in Fuerteventura.
@@JPinFuerteventura thanks again for responding , watching your videos one can really see that you love the island 🏝
@jp great video , ive driven there for years, never knew a few of them laws hahaha, great roads there, very easy to drive there. Were on our way over soon and Cicar have said there are no cars available, is it very busy there, or is there something else going on ? very strange, been going there for years and never was told no cars available
I think they are using that as an excuse to raise prices Brian
We always hire a car when there, very interesting to learn a few of those driving laws (flip flops etc...) Some good info.
I'm always very wary of Spanish police after once on Tenerife they towed my car away to the pound for no reason. The locals told me they do it regularly with hire cars as a money spinner off the tourists. I had to sign a long form at the police compound (all in Spanish) and pay a 300 euros in cash for the pleasure. I've never been back to the island since.
Likewise in Lisbon airport sixty car hire used to operate a scam, when returning your vehicle they check it and make up damage (usually the type not visable conveniently). Inside damage to a tyre being the favourite. Again you're in a hurry to catch a flight so end up signing a form to just get going. They do all this in a back office they take you to not the usual front office. I signed the form also writing "under duress" after my name (which they didn't understand). On return to the UK, I took legal actionst Sixty and won, recovering my money. I read many other reports of them doing it to others.
Lesson: Get recommended a local car hire company if possible, the big ones aren't necessarily the best and are often just franchises.
In Fuerteventura we've used Cicar for over 12 years and never had any issues.
That doesn't surprise me Viktor. Thanks for watching.
Great tips. Thanks JP. I hired a car when I first came in 1993 and was ok. But then it was 2013 before I drove on the right when I was in Greece (lesbos) as a rep for 6 months and I was a bit apprehensive but before long I was away, it was fine, like you say, second nature. I was done for not wearing a seatbelt very shortly before the end of season and the fine was punitive. That was the only time I encountered them. The police wanted to take my passport but luckily I didn't have it with me, just my driving licence. I surrendered that. I didn't pay my fine. I returned home and just applied for a new licence..
I will not be caught out again. I will observe all your tips including not resting my arm on the sill. Actually, I was a bugger for doing that in Greece. Mind you it was a bit more lax there generally.
I am glad you found it useful Bryan. Thanks for watching.
First issue I usually have when picking the car up at the airport is getting in the drivers seat.....after that it’s so easy. Agree the indication is an issue especially on roundabouts so easy to assume they are going to come around it as most times they do. Oh and of course that nightmare road in the mountains with no passing places with the white blocks on the edge of the road. Easiest place to drive and no rush to get from A to B.....you are on holiday
Absolutely - take it nice an easy. Thanks for watching.
Very interesting👍🏽 I can test my sister on her traffic laws now 😂😂
lol I wonder if she will pass. Thanks for watching Paul.
Very interesting.Thanks for the tips.I have driven in Lanzarote not Feurteventura but I assume much the same.I did not know about not driving in flip flops. As for driving topless I think the police would take pity on me if I attempted it.
Yes just the same over there. 😀 Thanks for watching.
Thanks John, hope all is good your end Sue and dogs, love your walks out with them, is there rules for dogs on beaches ? good driving tips, and rules I got a caution one year for pulling right up to a T junction, was told I must be a metre back, luckily no fine, just a delay, might be back soon. Thanks again Pete
Another piece of craziness then Peter. Stay a metre back and have a worse view of anything coming. Dogs are legally only allowed on designated dog beaches (which are very rare). Thanks for watching.
Great advice and much appreciated, do you need to carry your driving licence.
Yes you need driving licence, passport, proof of insurance/rental agreement. Thanks for watching William.
don't forget crossing the white line (200 euro fine ) and parking facing on coming traffic (200 euro fine but can be combined with crossing white line 400 in total )
I'm from the UK and I only passed my test in Feb last year and one thing I've always wanted to do is to do a road trip in the Europe. Now almost a year on and I'm eligible to drive overseas so was looking for the ideal place as a first timer and this looks like it...!
Any other advice you'd give me as a relatively new driver?
Just take t easy and don't panic. Remember that the driver is always towards the centre of the road. Good luck.
Useful tips JP and the diet is working sir,looking tip top👏
Yes it is, I have lost 22lbs in the past 2.5 months. Thanks for watching.
Very interesting John. You are looking well. I wonder if by flip flops they include sandals, my choice of footwear in the summer, unless I am driving one of my cars where the "organ stop" pedals mean it is trainers only.
Basically it means shoes without heel straps etc. So crocs are ok with the heel band in use but not it it is pushed forward. I know what you mean about the pedals. Driving a few of the smaller police cars in police boots was a bit of a challenge sometimes. I couldn't even drive my Caterham in trainers - race boots only as the footwell was so narrow.
@@JPinFuerteventura My new to me car is a cheap 2003 Porsche Boxster which cost £4,600 and it has a few issues, but the pedals were a surprise and sort of standard ~s~
Hi, Brilliant vlogg. We are visiting Corralejo for three weeks in November/December. Can you recommend a local car hire company?
I always used Autoreisen as they included everything and were always relatively low price. You may find this useful David - www.jpinfuerteventura.com/driving/renting-a-car-in-fuerteventura/
Hi John, Yet another great film, very informative. I have driven quite a bit in Fuerteventura, I love it. One thing I have noticed, and I wonder if you can clear it up for me please, Is it a requirement when you park your car at the side of the road, that it is parked on the side of direction of travel, in the direction of travel, not on the opposite side of the road opposing the direction as is often seen in UK. I hope I have been clear as to what I mean. Thanks again John, Keep safe.
Strictly speaking I think parking like that is illegal both here and in the UK. It happens a lot in both places but the police have other more pressing things to work on I guess. Thanks for watching Colin.
This straight from the Spanish law which says on two way roads you have to park on the right side of the road in the direction you travel. On one way roads it says you can park on either side. However there are many more laws regarding where you can park in relation to things like junctions but if I listed them all you would have you head spinning.
@@JPinFuerteventura Thankyou for the reply John
@@johndrew1407 Thankyou for the reply John
Dziękuję John, pozdrawiam Paulina
Dziękuję też Paulina
Thanks alot JP. For a very informative and interesting video 👍. We hire a car when we are over . My husband drives always as it baffles me when we get to a roundabout 😆lol. A few things you said that I didn't know so very helpful in future. Love the picture above your head. 😍. Also have you lost weight ? You looked very healthy. Stay safe and well. P.S . Any tips on how you managed to look so well .😁
I am always healthy (fortunately) but well spotted, I have lost 22lbs in the past 2.5 months. I have cut out all carbohydrates, sugars etc. Thanks for watching Amanda.
@@JPinFuerteventura Well done 👏✔👍👌😀
Can you use your phone mounted on the dashboard for getting instructions?
Do you mean as a satnav? Yes, provided it is securely mounted.
@@JPinFuerteventura I have got a mount that clips into the grill on the facia. I just then drop my phone into the mount.
And being from Canada I would have no problem driving there because the right side of the road is the right way for us!
It is indeed John. I have driven on the "wrong" side of the road in Canada too! Thanks for watching.
How about offride driving by myself? Is there a possibility?
Perhaps you can explain a little more as I am not sure what you mean jayJoe
@@JPinFuerteventura is it possible to go offroad somewhere on fuerteventura? Without a guide?
@@jayjoe8148 You can go anywhere you like - you don't need a guide. If you are in a hire car, you are not supposed to go off-road, but I have taken them to places I wouldn't want to take my 4x4.
Hi JP first class as always we have been visiting for 18 years and always hire a car hired one for 3 weeks over Christmas and New year €400 Euro .
As travel restrictions start to be lifted we are again planning 3 weeks I was shocked to see the cost of hiring the same car from Cabrera Medina has risen by over 100% to €827 Euro add this to the price of holiday and spending money we could go in a decent 4star hotel in Barbados are these people real or are they purposely trying to discourage visitors ?
Best Regards JP keep the videos coming
I was speaking to a German friend yesterday who is here for an extended stay and he was telling me that his hire car had doubled in price in the past week. Craziness. Thanks for watching Alan.
very helpful thank you. i will keep my arm off the car door from now on 🙄. anything to get money out of you
I am glad you found it useful James. Thanks for watching.
I guess I've escaped a few fines driving there in the past; driving shirtless, arm out of the window, not having an extra pair of glasses, having my phone on the passenger seat, not coming to a 100% stop at a stop-sign and last but not least: driving barefoot (I guess that's illegal too?!). Thanks for warning me, for next time! 🙂
Actually I am not sure about barefoot but I guess not. Thanks for watching.
JP, cards on the table first, I think the UK system for using roundabouts is the best way, BUT, as an ex hobby bobby, you should know the law on roundabouts in Spain. It is completely different from the UK.
Here is a quote from the Spanish DGT the Spanish law and also equivalent of the Highway Code: When there is more than one lane on a roundabout, you will normally travel around the roundabout in the right hand lane - the outside of the roundabout. The inside (left lane) is only to carry out an overtake or if the lane is signed for your direction of travel. Under no circumstances should a driver cut the course of other vehicles using the roundabout in order to exit from it. Further to this you should only use your right hand indicator to indicate you are leaving the roundabout. You do not use your left hand indicator at all to show, for example, you are going to take the third exit, like you do in the UK (obviously its reversed in the UK). I have spoken to a Spanish friend who owns Autoescuela Fuerte here in Fuerteventura and he confirms this as did a Guardia Civil Traffico Officer I know casually. My friend with the driving school said that if the person being tested doesn't follow this rule then they will fail their driving test. The problem is with all the tourist who are used to using roundabouts differently. The incorrect usage (according to Spanish rules) has rubbed off on some local drivers as well so you may have to go with the flow, but be aware you may be doing it incorrectly. The most important thing to remember is that if someone is in the right hand lane and not indicating then he might well, legally, be going past the next exit and you can't cut across in front of him (or her to be politically correct).
How is that different to what I said?
@@JPinFuerteventura You didn't say this is the Spanish law and you should follow that. I thought you were implying that the Spanish don't follow the law. What we think is correct as we are used to UK law is irrelevant. We live in Spain so should go with the local laws. I have seen people fined for incorrect lane use. Having said that, I found it difficult to apply this in the Peninsular, for example in Valencia, where there are roundabouts with seven or eight lanes and the cars are interspersed with mopeds making fifteen lanes. No doubt in your travels you have seen the same type of thing. Anyway, I was just trying to help people, not criticise you which you know I would do openly if I didn't agree with you.
Right or wrong (side of the road) is a relative thing ;-p
Depends
You are right. Relative to being a Brit it is wrong here. Driving/riding on the left has been in operation in the UK for centuries as it meant that the right-hand sword hand was on the side you passed others meaning it was easier to protect yourself if attacked. Thanks for wtaching.
more like driving on the right side of the road for the first time ;)
Ireland and U.K. are the only places in Europe who drive on the left side of the road. Why do you think everybody else drives on the "wrong side"?
Probably because the UK was the first place to introduce which side to pass on, long before cars were invented. (www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Why-do-the-British-drive-on-the-left/)
JP Its 30 parts of alcohol in the uk, not what you said.
That is the milligrams per 100 millilitres of breath (and it is 35 not 30) Matty. The 80 I quoted is for blood. Thanks for watching.
@@JPinFuerteventura fair point, we go by the breath not blood test to start with, thanks for the vids, take care, wish we were there!
@@JPinFuerteventura Limit on professional drivers and holders of driving licence less than 2 years the limit is 15 mg/l of exhaled air (30 milligrammes per 100 millilitres blood) Over 2 years driving 25 mg/l exhaled air (50 mg per 100 millilitres in blood) Stronger penalities for over 50 mg/l exhaled air. I agree you shouldn't drive when you have been drinking anyway, but for people with less than 2 years since holding a full driving licence then 15 mg/l is not much more than a sniff and just over one third of the UK limit. This information is from the Spanish law which I looked up.
Love the roads...pavements are terrible..lol
Yes, they are pretty bad in places. Thanks for watching Lorraine.