Travel Guide

Smoking in Spain

April 28th, 2006

I was wondering if or when this was coming. A news article caught my eye yesterday. It was a case of being fined for ‘Smoking behind the Wheel’. A driver was fined for smoking and driving in Spain. Although it is not against the law in Spain to smoke and drive, any action that interferes with driving is. This includes us ladies out there that insist on putting on lipstick while driving. Heck, some people I know even drive and drink hot cups of coffee from home while on their way to work!

If I were you, I would be more careful of what you do behind the wheel in Spain. I recon this is going to happen more frequently and maybe is should. Lets face it, doing anything in the car other than driving is a distraction that can cause an accident.

Here is a little story for you. I was sitting at a traffic light with my foot on the break. I took my attention away from the road and the car and started punching an address into the GPS. Without realising it, my foot had lifted slightly off the break pedal and I slowly cruised into the little sports car in front of me. The drive in the sports car was not impressed with me as my car is a huge 4×4 and sustained no damage while his little car had to have the bumper replaced. Now I know it is not serious but it is just an example of how little distractions can cause accidents.

It is also good to see that Spain is now catching up to the rest of the globe on issues like smoking in public buildings like the airport building and restaurants. That really bothered me when I first visited the country. The changes have only taken place about a year ago but it is progress that needs to be applauded.

Whats your opinion?

by Doreen B

Entry Filed under: Home, Spain