Desirable 3 bed detached property located in La Marina, situated in a quiet cul-de-sac close to local amenities. 5 Mins from beach!
This property comprises of a spacious lounge accessible via a glazed terrace, independent large, extended newly fitted kitchen and a fully fitted shower room...
More Pictures and Info>
There are a few differences between driving in the UK and driving on the Costa Blanca. The first, and most important difference is they drive on the right (some may say wrong) side of the road. However, learning to drive on the right and that skill becoming second nature is just the beginning.
At first glance you may think it far easier than in the UK. There is less traffic for instance, even during peak season and they drive much slower than they do in the UK. But the longer you spend driving on the Costa Blanca the more you realise these 2 points are completely negated by other factors. Take traffic lights for example, the colours have a slightly different meaning to those in the UK. Green means ‘Go’. Amber means ‘Go’ and Red means ‘If you can’t see any other cars or feel you still have enough time before causing a major accident… Go’.
Roundabouts are a relatively new addition to the road system on the Costa Blanca. And it shows. Instead of looking at how the rest of the world uses them, they came up with their own system. Two main points to remember: Whilst learning to drive on the Costa Blanca, learner drivers are taught that roundabouts are excellent places to overtake traffic and that the inside lane should only be used to do a U-turn. Note that the second rule somewhat contradicts the first. The outside lane is used for all other exits. So if you want to make a left turn you use the outside lane.
However, according with the Learner driver’s manual, there is no such thing as a left turn on a roundabout as once you’re on one, you can only turn right. Good eh? This causes confusion with indicating. You want to go left but you shouldn’t indicate left. Some have come to the conclusion that it is best not to indicate at all. By indicating you’re letting other drivers know what you’re going to do. Other drivers will simply use this to their advantage. Perghaps It’s best to keep them guessing.
The vast majority of roundabouts will be on single carriageways but as you approach one there is a very good chance the road will split into 2 lanes and will sometimes include a large chevron area of road. Now you may think the splitting into 2 lanes means a dual carriageway is looming up ahead but please don’t make this mistake. On the other side of the roundabout the road merges back into 1 lane. Just remember to stay in the outside lane, let the crazy locals overtake you on the roundabout and take care when entering the other side and merging with those who wanted to get past you. It will no doubt be a relief to yourself anyway as the car in question has probably been stuck to your rear bumper for the last 3km.
Apart from being overtaking points and for sending traffic all the way round in the outside lane, roundabouts on the Costa Blanca have 2 other great uses; Prostitution and Guardia Civil Road Checks. Again, 2 things that you think would usually not blend so well actually do appear together in harmony on the Costa Blanca. I must point out that this is far more common place in the South.
Remember those chevron areas mentioned earlier? These are used by the Guardia Civil to create roadside checkpoints. I have been stopped numerous times at these checkpoints, mainly because I drove a car with Madrid plates which catches their attention (ETA etc).
The main thing to remember is to be polite. Cooperate and try to understand the Spanish they speak to you. They will not speak English. But don’t’ worry too much, they will simply want to see your ID, Passport, Driving licence, your insurance, scan your retina, take your fingerprints and a swab of your saliva for DNA. Ok, those last 3 are untrue. If you’re in a hire car they will want to see the relevant papers, including the car rental contract and the insurance.
They are not friendly guys at the best of times and they can be intimidating, especially the fully geared men with automatic rifles, so it’s probably not wise to ask them why they are stopping ordinary everyday people for broken break lights and perfectly legal foreign plates when 200 meters back down the road at the previous roundabout there are a half dozen ladies of the night (or day) plying their trade. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out why this is so. As there are so many checkpoints make sure your car has the legally required equipment in the boot such as; reflective jackets, a roadside triangle, spare bulb kit etc.
More Driving on the Costa Blanca >