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DrivingLingo

Tema 31: motorways, dual carriageways and fast roads in the DGT exam

Fast roads have their own figures (120, 100, 90 and minimum 60), their own bans and their own way of joining and leaving.

Reviewed on 6 October 2026 · sources: BOE and DGT

Fast roads have their own figures, bans and way of joining and leaving. The exam asks all three.

  • On a motorway (autopista) or dual carriageway (autovía): 120 km/h passenger cars (turismos) and motorcycles, 100 buses, 90 lorries and cars with trailers. The minimum is 60 km/h for every motor vehicle.
  • They are closed to animal-drawn vehicles, bicycles, mopeds (ciclomotores) and reduced-mobility vehicles. Exception: bicycles ridden by over-14s on the dual carriageway shoulder (arcén), unless a sign says otherwise.
  • Whoever joins from the acceleration lane (carril) still gives way. Reversing and stopping on the carriageway (calzada) outside the marked areas are banned.
  • Outside a built-up area (poblado) you use the right-hand lane.

Watch out: the maximum changes by category; the minimum does not.

In DrivingLingo: study the information signs, review speed and joining traffic and lateral movements, then practise with the .

Source: RGC art. 48.1.a); RGC art. 49.1; RGC art. 38.1 and 38.4; RGC art. 72.4; RGC art. 73.1; RGC art. 31.1

Key rules of topic 31

Speed on fast roads

On an autopista (motorway) or autovía (dual carriageway): 120 km/h cars and motorcycles, 100 buses, 90 lorries and cars with trailers.

  • The minimum is 60 km/h for every motor vehicle, whatever its category.
  • If an emergency makes you abnormally slow, you leave at the first exit: the speed difference is what kills.
  • S-16: emergency braking zone for a vehicle that loses its brakes on a slope.

Source: RGC art. 48.1.a); RGC art. 49.1; RGC art. 38.2; RGC anexo I, señal S-16 (catálogo RD 465/2025)

Who may enter

Autopistas (motorways) and autovías (dual carriageways) are closed to animal-drawn vehicles, bicycles, mopeds and reduced-mobility vehicles.

  • Exception: bicycles ridden by over-14s on the dual carriageway's arcén (hard shoulder), unless a sign says otherwise.
  • Nor animals, loose or led; nor the VMP: no by-law can allow it.
  • Signs: S-1 motorway, S-1a dual carriageway, S-2 and S-2a their ends, S-3 road for cars.

Source: RGC art. 38.1 y 38.4; RGC art. 128; RGC anexo I, señales S-1 a S-3 (catálogo RD 465/2025); TRLSV anexo I, 66 y 67

Joining, leaving and stopping

Whoever joins from the acceleration carril (lane) still yields, and the driver already on the road helps the entry.

  • The deceleration lane exists so that you brake away from those still doing 120.
  • Marcha atrás (reversing) and stopping on the calzada (carriageway) outside the marked areas are banned; the arcén (hard shoulder) is for emergencies only.
  • Advance-warning signs go 500 m ahead on an autopista (motorway) or autovía (dual carriageway), and about 50 m in poblados (built-up areas).

Source: RGC art. 72.4; RGC art. 73.1; RGC art. 77; RGC arts. 80.3 y 94.1.g); RGC art. 146.2.d).1.ª

Carriles (lanes) and restrictions

Outside poblados (built-up areas) you use the right-hand lane; the others only when needed and without obstructing.

  • HOV lane: motorcycles, cars and mixed adaptable vehicles; a car with a trailer, no.
  • In a jam, the emergency corridor opens in the middle (2 lanes) or beside the left lane (3 or more); in snow, the left lane is for snowploughs and emergency vehicles.
  • S-123 rest area, S-271 advance sign for services, S-970 phone and extinguisher.

Source: RGC art. 31.1; RGC art. 32; RGC art. 35.2.a); RGC art. 39.4; RGC anexo I, señales S-123, S-271 y S-970 (catálogo RD 465/2025)

Learn the rule, then practise it

Study topic 31 step by step: the rule, its citation and exam-style questions.

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