Three dangers: distraction, sleep and the phone. Learn the manual's lists and the law's two bans.
This tema gathers three dangers: distraction, sleep and the phone. You learn the DGT manual's lists and the law's bans.
While driving you do not use the phone or any other communication system that needs hands, headsets or earphones. Stopped at a red light you are still driving: still banned. While moving you do not use screens with internet, TV or video or DVD players. The DGT manual teaches planning your rest every 2 hours or 200 km, even before you feel tired. The break of at least 45 minutes after 4 h 30 of driving is a rule for professional drivers. Watch out: the test for the phone is not the medium but not using your hands.
In DrivingLingo: study the road signs , review alcohol and drugs and accessories and ADAS , then practise with the distractions lesson .
Source: RGC art. 18.1; RGC art. 18.2; LSV art. 13.3; Regulation (EC) 561/2006, arts. 6.1 and 7; DGT manual (teaching, not statute)
Key rules of topic 33 What a distraction is A distraction is fixing on something, inside or outside the vehicle, unrelated to driving.
The highest-risk ages are 18 to 25 and over 70. They are more frequent with several people in the car, because conversation distracts. They cluster in summer, on weekend trips and by day, and more on the open road (motorways, autovías (dual carriageways)) than in town. Source: DGT, Manual del Permiso B en Lectura Fácil, tema 3, «Accidentes por distracciones»
Causes of distraction The road, the traffic and what you do distract you: not only the phone.
Road: knowing it well and growing overconfident, heavy traffic with pedestrians and signs at once, poor night visibility and glare. Person: eating or drinking while driving, looking at a map or removing an insect from the car. Mood: a heated argument or sad news makes you lose concentration. Source: DGT, Manual del Permiso B en Lectura Fácil, tema 3, «Accidentes por distracciones y Estado físico y psicológico del conductor»
Constant attention You keep your freedom of movement, your field of vision and constant attention to driving.
You stow objects and animals properly and make sure passengers keep their position, so nobody interferes. It is breached by any distraction, whether or not you use a screen or phone, and no accident is needed. At a busy intersección (junction) there are pedestrians, vehicles and signs at once: looking away for a moment is the worst thing. Source: RGC art. 18.1 ; LSV art. 13.2 ; DGT, Manual del Permiso B en Lectura Fácil, tema 3, «Accidentes por distracciones»
Screens in the vehicle While moving you do not use screens with internet, TV or video or DVD players.
Exceptions: GPS and monitors in the driver's view, needed for the rear manoeuvre or to see pedestrians. The text bans use by the driver while the vehicle is moving. Parked off the calzada (carriageway) there is no ban; a screen only passengers see is not covered either. Source: RGC art. 18.1 (párrafo 2.º)
Smoking, phone and GPS Smoking at the wheel doubles the crash risk and using a phone multiplies it by 4.
Smoking distracts for 4 reasons: looking for and lighting the cigarette, one hand occupied, worse vision from smoke and worse air. Hands-free is dangerous too, because it still takes attention. GPS: you set it before leaving, fix it so it cannot roll, in a spot that lets the airbags open. Source: DGT, Manual del Permiso B en Lectura Fácil, tema 3, «Fumar en el vehículo», «Uso del teléfono móvil» y «Navegadores GPS»
Phone: what is banned While driving you do not use the phone or any other communication system that needs hands, headsets or earphones.
Talking is allowed with no hands and no earphones; both conditions are needed together. Exempt: police officers on duty and military drivers in convoy. Motorcycle or moped: a certified wireless device in the helmet is allowed, only for intercom or navigation. Source: RGC art. 18.2 ; LSV art. 13.3
Headphones, helmets and radar You do not drive with audio headsets or earphones connected to sound players.
It applies to every driver, car drivers too; only tuition and open-circuit tests are excepted. Motorcycle helmet: approved wireless device, only for intercom or navigation. Exempt: officers and armed forces in convoy. Radar: carrying a detector is banned, even if unused; warnings of check locations are allowed. Source: RGC art. 18.2 y 18.3 ; LSV art. 13.3 y 13.6
Causes of drowsiness Drowsiness comes from sleeping little, badly or at different hours, and from certain times and roads.
Sleeping less than usual is the first cause; feeling awake when you set off does not cancel the sleep debt. Changing your sleeping hours and sleeping badly also count, even if you sleep many hours. It rises in the small hours, at midday after eating and on quiet roads because of monotony. Source: DGT, Manual del Permiso B en Lectura Fácil, tema 3, «Somnolencia»
Drowsiness symptoms Drowsiness shows as frequent yawning, blurred vision and being unable to hold your head up or keep your eyes open.
You lose concentration, have nonsensical thoughts and cannot remember the last kilometres. You miss signs, overshoot your exit and drive very close to the vehicle ahead. You drift out of your carril (lane) without noticing. Source: DGT, Manual del Permiso B en Lectura Fácil, tema 3, «Somnolencia»
Microsleep and prevention A microsleep is dozing off for seconds without noticing, and it breaks your duty to be able to control the vehicle.
Drowsiness has two effects: you react more slowly and decide worse. Plan your rest: every 2 hours or 200 km, even before you feel tired. Obey the fatigue detector: it spots tiredness before you notice it. Source: DGT, Manual del Permiso B en Lectura Fácil, tema 3, «Somnolencia y Cómo puedes evitar la fatiga y la somnolencia» ; RGC art. 17.1
Driving times A professional driver takes a break of at least 45 minutes after 4 h 30 of driving.
It may be split into 15 minutes then 30, within the driving period and in that order. The daily maximum is 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours twice a week. The tachograph records driving and rest times; helping to tamper with it is an offence, also for whoever orders it. Source: Reglamento (CE) 561/2006, arts. 6.1 y 7 ; LSV art. 77.m) ; TRLSV anexo II, ordinal 7
Fatigue and rest Being able to control the vehicle is lost through fatigue, sleep or a serious distraction.
There is no remedy other than stopping: not fresh air or music; carrying on to a distant rest area does not comply. Causes of fatigue: long or night journeys you are not used to, non-professional drivers included. Too much heat in the vehicle tires you; the reference temperature is about 23 degrees. Source: RGC art. 17.1 ; DGT, Manual del Permiso B en Lectura Fácil, tema 3, «Fatiga»