Anyone heading off to Spain on their holidays this year has been warned about an illegal act that people may not have known about.
Being a hot country, it's expected for people to go shirtless when they're at the beach or lounging about the pool. But getting behind the wheel and driving without a t-shirt on is illegal, and motorists could be slapped with a fine if they're caught.
As well as a potential €200 fine, drivers may also receive up to three points on their licence if spotted by the police whilst driving shirtless, Wales Online reports.
Andrew Jervis, CEO of leading online mechanic marketplace ClickMechanic, said: “It’s fairly common to see motorists in the UK remove their shirts to cool down during hot weather.
“But we need to remember that laws in other countries are not always the same and I’d urge people to be aware of what’s legal and illegal when they get behind the wheel somewhere new.
“In Spain, traffic police consider driving shirtless to be a threat to your safety and your ability to move, which means it is against the law to strip off your top half.
“When travelling abroad it’s essential to respect the local rules and regulations, even if they seem very different to what we’re used to at home.”
Spain is a hugely popular tourist destination, with around 15.1 million Brits visiting last year. However, it has many rules surrounding traffic that are different to ones in the UK, leaving drivers at risk unless they know what's actually allowed.
The main difference is that vehicles drive on the right hand side of the road, the opposite to what it is here. Also, speed limits are recognised in kilometres, rather than miles per hour.
Spanish law says that any action that could distract either the driver or the passenger should be avoided, and officers can include driving shirtless in this.
If caught, punishment can range from a fine of €80 to a fine of €200 and three penalty points.
Similarly, driving while wearing flip flops can also land those guilty in hot water.
In 2018, Spanish law enforcement agency Guardia Civil issued a warning that when translated into English said: “A fine for driving with flip flops? Yes, believe it, they can penalise you when the conduct impedes the freedom of movement of the driver or the control of the vehicle and thereby jeopardises the safety of the road.”
The punishment is left to the discretion of the individual officer, meaning motorists may escape with a telling off if they are lucky.
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