ARCHIVED - Six points as well as a fine if caught driving whilst holding a mobile phone in Spain

The Spanish government has approved changes to traffic laws that include harsher penalties and new safety measures all aimed to reduce road deaths.

Penalties will be harsher for drivers in Spain caught with mobile phones in their hands following new measures approved by the Spanish government this week to improve road safety.

From now on, in addition to 200-euro fines for using mobiles behind the wheel, those spotted holding a phone while driving will lose six points from their licenses, and drivers found using a phone but not actually holding it in their hand whilst driving (hands free sets) will lose three.

Whereas in the UK points are gained for traffic violations, Spanish drivers start with 12 points when they pass their tests (which increases to 15 over time) and lose them as punishment for offences, along with fines.

Other changes to the point system include an increase of the number of points lost for failing to correctly use seatbelts, helmets or child seats from three to four; and penalties of three points for those found in possession of radar-detection devices.

Another important part of the new DGT traffic authority regulations approved this week is the introduction of the V16 emergency lights, which will be permitted as of 1 July 2021 and will gradually phase out emergency triangles between then and 1 January 2026.

These devices are aimed to greatly improve safety in case of breakdowns or accidents as drivers can put their arms out of their windows and pop the highly visible flashing lights onto the roof rather than having to get out of the car and position a warning triangle.

According to a government spokesperson, 22 people died on Spanish roads between 2014 and 2019 while putting out their emergency triangles.

All the new measures and changes, the DGT says, are part of a strategy to halve the number of deaths and serious injuries in road accidents by 2030.