The fines of the DGT that can give you this summer and ruin your vacations

July 1 is approaching and, with it, the first major Operation Exit of a summer that, this time, will be closer to normality. We will be able to travel without restrictions, get rid of the masks outdoors... but the fines more typical of vacations will also return.

And we are not talking about speed, belt or alcohol which, as always, will be subject to special surveillance by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT). The 'own' ones of summer also arrive, such as driving with flip-flops or the wrong shoes, drinking at the wheel, getting lost with the GPS or the mobile navigator... and all of them will be very expensive.

Driving with flip flops: is it allowed?

As the DGT has specified, it is the 'question of the summer' and has a simple answer. And it's 'yes', you can be penalized for driving with flip flops. Although it has nuances because it is a behavior that is not explicitly listed as an infraction in the Traffic Regulations.

However, the fine can arrive if an agent considers that this footwear (like high-heeled shoes, for example) endangers the safety of the vehicle. The solution, yes, is very simple: avoid flip-flops and sandals, wear comfortable shoes and thus, in addition to gaining safety, we will avoid unpleasantness in the form of 'recipes'.

And it is not just any fine, since if an agent decides to report us, we will face a fine of up to 80 euros.

Driving without a shirt... can I get a ticket?

With this assumption, as with that of footwear, the same logic is applied, which is what the Law collects -on the other hand-. Only if an agent considers that driving without a shirt (or with any other specific clothing) poses a risk to safety, he will be able to sanction.

In this case, it is much more unlikely than with flip-flops, but from the driver's point of view, it is equally absurd to drive without a shirt, since any friction with the belt can multiply the consequences in the event of an accident.

@RageOfRoses He drove across town to her sisters house and parked. When she climbed into the car he could tell some… https://t.co/qDoyvVroKZ

— Theo Maxwell Mon Jul 26 00:09:37 +0000 2021

throw cigarette butts out the window

A case in which there is no room for interpretation for the authority agent is to throw cigarette butts out the window. The DGT considers that this action endangers the safety of other users (especially motorcyclists and cyclists) and can cause fires (and more so in summer).

The fine in this case is in accordance with the seriousness of the action and the consequences that it may entail: it will be 200 euros and the deduction of four points from the card.

Eating or drinking while driving

On summer trips, hydration is important since high temperatures are an enemy for our comfort. But you have to do it safely because again we can have problems if an officer stops us if he has seen us, for example, drinking water while driving.

"The driver of a vehicle is obliged to maintain his own freedom of movement, the necessary field of vision and permanent attention to driving, which guarantee his own safety, that of the rest of the occupants of the vehicle and that of the other users of the vehicle. the road", reads article 18.1 of the General Circulation Regulations.

Mobile phone, GPS... better not touch them

The GPS or the navigation functions of the mobile phone can be good allies in our journeys... as long as we handle them correctly. Because manipulating both browsers and, above all, the phone is going to be more severely punished this summer than in previous years.

It is one of the main changes that came into force with the latest reform of the Law on Traffic and Road Safety, which in its article 18.2 establishes the prohibition of using "mobile phone devices and any other means or system of communication while driving, except when the development of communication takes place without using the hands or using helmets, headphones or similar instruments".

In order to comply with this regulation and not put our safety at risk, it is best to program the GPS before starting or, if the technology of our car's multimedia system allows it, manage them with our voice (so we will not take our hands off the wheel or the view of the road) or stop in a safe area if they have to be handled.

Special attention must be paid to these actions since they are the most frequent fines - with the exception of speeding fines - and, in addition, they are penalized with 500 euros and the loss of six points from the license as they are considered serious.

And before traveling... plan

Apart from these precautions, before making a long journey it is important to plan the route well and consult traffic incidents through all the DGT information channels. In addition, you have to make stops to rest every two hours and air-condition the interior of the vehicle with a comfortable temperature that makes the journey more pleasant.

And once under way, rest every two hours or 200 kilometers to make the trip more comfortable and safe.

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