New Spanish Driving Tests, UK Senior Licence Changes, and the Fight Against 'Ghost Plates'

This week on the N332 Driving in Spain podcast, we dive into major developments impacting drivers across Spain and the UK.

Mark Nolan covers the DGT's significant revamp of the Spanish driving theory test, which now incorporates new road signs and plans for video-based questions to better test real-world judgement.

We also look at the UK Government’s introduction of a new mandatory digital renewal process for driving licences for those aged 70 and over.

In crime and enforcement news, Spain is imposing tougher penalties—up to a six-point deduction—for mobile phone use at the wheel, while UK police are deploying new technology to combat 'ghost plates' used to evade ANPR cameras.

As the nights draw in, we highlight three essential articles on N332.es focusing on the crucial theme of road visibility.

Plus, our Motoring History Corner explores key developments from the first week of November in both Spanish and UK transport history.

Tune in for all the essential road safety news and analysis you need for the week ahead. 

For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the N three to three to two Driving
in Spain podcast. Here's Mark Nolan with the latest Hello.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
And a very warm, well getting cooler actually, Welcome to
this week's N three three to two Driving in Spain podcast.
I'm Mark Nolan, and before we get into the details,
just a couple of newsy type updates if I may. Firstly,
apologies if you missed us for the last couple of weeks.
I was on Hollybob's in Scotland. To be precise, I

(00:27):
went to Inverness, Lochness, Orkney and then finishing in Glasgow.
Quite a contrast from a driving point of view. So
apologies again. But if you want to see the picks
you can find them on my personal socials. Oh and
I saw the Northern lights which were stunning, and some
fluffy cous which were also beautiful. I actually brought one home,

(00:47):
but only in the shape of a cushion. I did
take her to meet the real coups first though. Also,
we have now concluded this season's tour of talks. Thanks
to everyone who came along. We will return in the
spring for more, but next weekend, the fifteenth of November,
we will be at Expo tour Vieha, But I will
tell you more about that another time, as you can

(01:08):
win an exclusive N three three two goodie bag and
we will have a special Trafford treasure hunt you can
do with the kids. Talking of Trafford, we haven't finished
the schools tour yet that continues this month. But Trafford
also has a podcast now for the little ones, which
you can find on his website Traffordanfriends dot com and

(01:30):
wherever you get your podcast. Gosh, that was a lot
and we haven't even started yet. I've got more to
say too, but alas, let's get on with it. So
hello and welcome to another edition of the N three
three to two Driving in Spain podcast. I'm mart Nolan,
and this week we're covering some really important updates for
drivers and road users across Europe, particularly as the night's

(01:53):
draw in. In this episode, we'll be looking closely at
the dgt's major changes to the Banish Driving Test, designed
to better prepare new drivers for real world conditions. We'll
also examine the UK's new digital license renewal process for
older motorists, a change that's had a mixed reaction. Finally,

(02:14):
we'll turn our attention to the UK's fight against something
called ghost plates, illegal number plates used to evade police cameras.
Plus we'll dive into a little piece of motoring history
from both Spain and the UK. And as always, we've
got three essential articles from our contributors on the N
three to three to two website about one of the

(02:35):
most critical topics for this time of year, visibility. Let's
start with our top two big stories this week, focusing
on major legislative and procedural changes in Spain and the UK.
First up, we have story number one, Spain revamps driving
theory test and road signs for modern mobility. The Spanish

(02:55):
Director at General for Traffic or DGT, has been busy
modernizing the driving license process, with new changes to the
theory test taking effect from the first of October this year.
For years, the test, which consists of thirty multiple choice questions,
had been criticized for encouraging memorization rather than real understanding.

(03:16):
The dgt's goal is to turn the exam into a
true assessment of a driver's ability to apply the rules
to the complex modern traffic situations we all face. This
update now fully incorporates the new, more contemporary and inclusive
catalog of road signs that were revised in July. Crucially,
the plan is to eventually introduce short videos or audio

(03:38):
visual fragments of real life traffic scenarios. Future candidates will
have to identify risks and react appropriately, testing their judgment
under pressure, which is a significant move towards safer, more
prepared drivers. And now to the UK, where we have
story number two New UK leaving license renewal rules for

(04:02):
senior motorists. The UK government is bringing in a major
update for drivers age seventy and over with a new
mandatory digital renewal system starting in October twenty twenty five.
This shift to a digital first process means that renewals,
which occur every three years for this age group, will
primarily be done online via the jov dot UK website.

(04:26):
The application will include an updated medical self assessment to
confirm fitness to drive, a measure the government says is
a sensible step to balance the independence of older drivers
with the absolute necessity of road safety. While welcomed by
some for its convenience, it has naturally raised concerns about
drivers who may not be as comfortable with an online

(04:48):
only process. It's a move that brings the UK into
closer alignment with the discussions we see in other European countries,
including Spain, about how to best manage an aging driving population.
This week on the N three three to two dot
ees website, our contributors are focused on a crucial theme
for the autumn and winter months, visibility. We have three

(05:11):
excellent articles this week that delve into how to keep
yourself and your vehicle safe and seen as the daylight
hours shorten. Starting on Monday, we have an article from
N three to three to two ensure title Be Seen,
Stay Safe. The importance of visibility on Spain's roads. This
is a great practical guide for all road users, breaking

(05:34):
down exactly why being visible matters. It explains how simple
things like wearing reflective clothing, ensuring your vehicle's lighting is correct,
and simply being more aware of your surroundings are vital
steps in preventing accidents, particularly during those tricky twilight hours.
Then on Tuesday, Ibec's Insurance gives us some bright ideas

(05:54):
for winter driving. This piece focuses on vehicle preparation, advising
drivers on how to get their cars ready for colder,
darker weather. It covers the essentials, making sure your lights
are clean and correctly aimed, checking your tire pressures and tread,
and the often overlook necessity of a healthy battery. They
stress that good maintenance isn't just about preventing breakdowns. It's

(06:17):
a key element in preventing accidents and in turn protecting
your insurance cover. Finally, on Wednesday, our friends at Coy's
rent a Car offer some tailored advice in Drive Bright,
Drive Safe Visibility Tips for Visitors. This is essential reading
for any tourist or visitor hiring a car in Spain.

(06:38):
It covers those pre drive checks you should always do
in a rental vehicle, how to use your lights correctly
in different conditions, and practical advice on crucial right hand
driving principles like maintaining good lane discipline to ensure you
are safe and visible to others. We highly recommend checking
all three of these articles on the N three to
three to two website this week. They are vital reading

(07:01):
for the season. Moving on to some of the other
significant news stories we've been tracking over the last fortnight,
Tougher penalties for mobile phone use in Spain shows the
DGT is getting even more serious about distracted driving. While
the fine for using a mobile phone at the wheel
is staying at two hundred euros, the amount of penalty
points you'll lose is being hiked up to six points.

(07:25):
This isn't just about actively talking or texting. The fine
applies even if you are just caught holding or checking
your phone. This change clearly signals that the Spanish authorities
view driver distraction as one of the leading causes of
accidents and are implementing some of the toughest penalties in
Europe to fight it. Next, ghost plates evasion technology targeted

(07:49):
by UK police. You might have heard about ghost plates.
These are illegal, manipulated number plates designed to confuse or
evade the UK's extensive network of automatic number plate recognition
or ANPR cameras. This is not a laughing matter, it's
a serious threat to law enforcement and road safety. In response,

(08:11):
police forces across the UK are now deploying advanced camera technology,
such as the new Scentio ghost system, which is capable
of detecting these illegal plates. The crackdown shows a firm
commitment to tackling those who try to evade the law,
be it for avoiding tolls, parking fines, or more serious

(08:31):
criminal activity, and finally another apt reminder to us all
of the importance of visibility. Cheshire launched be Bright, Be Safe,
Be Seen campaign as clocks change following the end of
British summertime. Chesh's Road Safety group in the UK has
launched this campaign to remind everyone drivers, cyclists and pedestrians

(08:53):
to take extra care. Road casualty data shows a worrying trend.
The number of child pedestrian casualties tends to double around
this time of year, particularly during school drop off and
pick up times. The simple message is for everyone to
actively make themselves more visible, whether that's through high visibility vests,

(09:13):
reflective accessories or simply ensuring car lights are on and clean.
It's a message that applies just as much to those
driving here in Spain as it does in the UK.
Now for a look back in time, as we check
the motoring history books for the week of Monday November
three through to Sunday November ninth, our spotlight falls on

(09:35):
a few key historical moments, one with a Spanish connection
and one with a UK link. Starting with the Spanish
connection on November third, nineteen eleven. While not a Spanish
company itself, a name that would become globally synonymous with
mass market motoring was established. Louis Chevrolet, a Swiss Bourne

(09:57):
racing driver, officially incorporated the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in Detroit.
While he later parted ways with the company, the Chevy
name went on to produce millions of affordable, robust cars
that have been driven across every continent, including being imported
into Spain over the decades, influencing the global motor industry,
which in turn has shaped Spanish infrastructure and vehicle regulation.

(10:23):
Turning to the UK, the focus this week is slightly different.
On November seventh, nineteen fifty seven, a key moment for
British transport infrastructure occurred. This was the date the Queensway Tunnel,
which runs under the River Mersey connecting Liverpool and Birkenhead,
officially open to two way traffic. While the tunnel itself

(10:44):
had opened in nineteen thirty four, its formal dedication and
use by motor vehicles marked a major milestone in urban
infrastructure development in the UK. The sheer scale and complexity
of this pre war engineering project served as a blueprint
for future British motorways and road systems, including the crucial

(11:04):
planning that went into managing traffic flows in postwar Britain,
which still affects road safety policy today. So that wraps
up this week's key road safety and traffic law updates.
We've covered everything from new driver exams in Spain and
senior license renewals in the UK, to the fight against

(11:24):
digital crime on our roads and the absolute necessity of
good visibility as the winter season approaches. Don't forget to
visit N three three two dot ees to read this
week's essential articles on visibility by N three three to two, Ensure,
Ibex Insurance and Coy's Rent a Car. The links to

(11:44):
all these articles are available in the show notes for
this episode. Thank you so much for tuning in Drive
Safely be Seen, and we'll be back next Sunday with
more news and analysis. Don't forget to subscribe to the
podcast wherever you listen so you never miss an ELD.
See you next week.

Speaker 1 (12:02):
That was the N three three two Driving in Spain
podcast presented by Mark Nolan. My name is Lily. If
you want to know how we use AI in these productions,
you can find out all about it on the website
N three three two dot E s c you next time,