Toll roads are virtually empty and most of the motorways, with the exception of large town interchanges like Bilbao or Madrid they are very light with traffic and on the whole drivers here do not seem to be in such a rush.
Something we learnt yesterday from a fellow driver you can easily be caught speeding on toll roads as your entrance and exit times are recorded and if you show excessive speed you can be fined on the spot at the exit barrier.
Talking to a cyclist, helmets are to be worn according to the police although locals never seem to bother; or with lights. However this chap told us he had been fined 250 euros for being drunk in charge of a bike and not wearing a helmet on a major road.
There seems to be zero tolerance for any drink driving situations.
The quality or most Spanish roads we have travelled on is excellent, I cannot vouch for mountain trails, which look frightening as you pass the mountains on the motorways, as they wind precariously up the side of the mountains, but the main roads are fine. Most motorways seem little more than dual carriageways that link most towns in a complete network of easy travel. The exits to neighbouring towns are clearly marked in plenty of time and traffic peels off to the right to be re-directed from roundabouts to smaller destinations, whilst the motorway traffic continues on.
Certainly in the wintertime traffic moves with ease through most towns, drivers are halted every few yards by lights at intersections and pedestrian crossings so although traffic moves fairly slowly it feels quite laid back and lazy, but it keeps moving. There don’t seem to be traffic queues in the towns we visited, certainly not in the wintertime. We also had a pretty easy journey from Bilbao to Costa Calida, with our car piled high with possessions!
It seems some laws change in different regions however here is a link that may be helpful to you: Reg. No CV 01 047305 A CIF No G54504931 Email davidclubtorre@ gmail.com, (provided by an expat to help drivers understand various traffic rules in Spain), there may be variances in different regions, but be sure to carry your passport in the car or an official copy and spare lights, spare glasses if worn, first aid kit and accident triangles.
We are still discovering Spain as we have now moved here for the winter; we are enjoying the warm climate and peaceful venues, and will leave the summer heat and crush for others to enjoy!