"Driving in Spain and Spanish highway laws are based simply on the rule that you always drive on the right.

Only if you are over-taking can you cross into the left hand lane."

So that's straight-forward enough but what happens when the road isn't straight, what happens on a roundabout?

This is the explanation the Guardia Civil gave:

1. Stay right unless you are overtaking - simple.

2. When over-taking you give room to the driver on your inside and you DON'T cut him up - well of course, we know this.

3. If you want to turn right this is how you do it safely - we know this.

4. This is NOT how you do it - and we know this too.

5. On a straight road it's obvious where you need to be.

6. and if the road curves it doesn't change a thing - you stay right because you know you are turning right.

7. and ultimately on a roundabout you also stay right.

And there you have it. That is the 'thinking' (I use that word with reservation) behind the rule that says you can 'stay right' all the way round until your exit even if as you approach the roundabout your exit is on the left !!

No other European country teaches its drivers to use roundabouts in this way and how ironic that it's Spain who teaches this (in my opinion) very dangerous and unbelievable rule when Spain probably has more foreign drivers on its roads than any other European country !

So I'll say it now - I'm a conscientious driver; which to me means - know your highway code and we'll get on fine but do something stupid and the air will turn blue.

Attending this traffic info seminar I was cautious about the whole roundabout thing. Roundabout rules are based on common sense in the UK as much of the Highway Code is but I know that roundabout rules in Spain are "different" and if I finally heard the Spanish rules from the Guardia Civil could I still 'do' roundabouts here and feel totally self righteous when I toot some arse as they cut across in front of me on the outside lane heading for the last exit !

The answer is - I wish I'd never gone to that meeting. The Guardia were always going to justify their roundabout rules and I was always going to disagree. But now I've heard it I can't un hear it.

But just to clarify: in Spain drivers are taught to stay on the right ALL the way around even when taking the last exit.

And Discuss.....