Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to the week Ahead, your weekly outlook
focusing on the key stories and events in Spain and
the United Kingdom for the week ahead Monday the eighth
through Sunday, September twenty twenty five, Let's start in Spain.
Midweek brings one of the most closely watched corporate updates
in Europe as Inditechts, owner of Zara, Massimo Dutti and
(00:23):
Paul and Bear, publishes results on Wednesday. With consumer spending
patterns shifting, investors and policymakers will pay close attention to
sales trends, profit margins, and the balance between store and
online growth. Culturally and socially, Spain continues to ride the
late summer rhythm. The Voilta a Espanya reaches its final
(00:45):
stage on Sunday, concluding three weeks of racing that have
highlighted the country's landscapes and communities. Expect large crowds and
road closures around the finishing circuit as Spain celebrates the
end of its Grand Tour. On the political and government front,
ministries are back from the August slow down. Agendas this
(01:06):
week focus on employment policy, energy transition, and early groundwork
for the autumn's legislative debates and now to the United Kingdom.
Monday sees Prince Harry return to London for the well
Child Awards, drawing media and public attention. On Tuesday, eyes
turned to California for the global launch of the iPhone seventeen,
(01:26):
but closer to home, MPs open a first debate on
Diego Garcia and the Chagos Islands legislation, a matter of
sovereignty and historical responsibility. That evening, England face Serbia in
a World Cup twenty twenty six qualifier. Wednesday brings a
televised debate on immigration, shaping the political conversation on one
(01:50):
of the most pressing domestic topics. It also coincides with
the National Television Awards, a cultural fixture in the UK calendar.
Day is significant for financial markets and policy makers. The
European Central Bank issues its latest interest rate decision, and
Westminster will be watching carefully for ripple effects on borrowing
(02:11):
costs and currency. The day also marks six months since
the Birmingham bin strikes began, a reminder of ongoing labor
tensions in the public sector. On Friday, the House of
Lords begins its historic debate on the assisted dying bill.
At the same time, the monthly GDP estimate will be released,
offering a snapshot of how the economy is holding up
(02:34):
after a challenging summer. The weekend brings demonstrations on Saturday,
with opposing protests planned in London, one organized by supporters
of Tommy Robinson and the other by stand Up to Racism.
Security and traffic disruption are expected, and on Sundays, sport
takes over again as England conclude their T twenty cricket
(02:57):
series against South Africa and to close on a positive note,
Spain's voilter Ipania provides the uplifting image of the week.
From mountain climes to city sprints, the race brings communities
together and showcases the best of the country. As the
peloton reaches its finale on Sunday, it marks not just
the end of a race, but a celebration of endurance,
(03:21):
teamwork and national pride. That's your Spain and the UK
outlook for the week ahead. Join us again next time
for more of the stories and events shaping the agenda.
Back to school. Welcome to this week's DGT traffic Update.
This week we're focusing on the significant change in traffic
(03:44):
dynamics as the country shifts into the back to school routine.
From Monday morning, expect a notable increase in congestion on
urban and commuter roads nationwide. This is particularly true in
regions like Aragon and the Valencian Community where the new
school year officially begins. The morning and afternoon school runs
will add considerable volume to the road network, so please
(04:08):
be patient to leave extra time for your journey and
be highly vigilant around schools. We have a number of
regional holidays to be aware of. On Monday, Asturious and
Extremadura celebrate their regional days, which will lead to localized
events and potential road closures in towns like Oviedo and Merida.
Later in the week, on Thursday, Catalonia observes its national day, Laddiada.
(04:32):
This will likely cause significant traffic disruption in Barcelona, with
demonstrations and events leading to planned diversions. So looking to
the weekend, we expect the usual high volume of traffic
on routes leading away from major cities as people take
their final trips before autumn sets in. In Barcelona, the
ongoing Fiestas de la merce will continue to impact city
(04:55):
center roads. For all your journeys this week, please plan ahead,
check the DG live traffic updates and remember to drive
with extra care, especially now that the school run is
back in full swing. That's all for now, Stay safe
on the roads. For the full briefing, visit N three
three to two Radio dot ES Drive Safely ABD Remember
(05:18):
that every day is a school day.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
This is the N three three to two Driving in
Spain podcast. Here's Mark Nolan with the latest.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Hello and welcome back to the N three three two
Driving in podcast. It's great to have you with us today.
We're diving into a mix of important and timely topics,
with a special focus on back to school safety with
the new school year now in full swing. We'll be
looking at the latest DGT report on their summer safety
(05:49):
campaign and also delving into how to stay safe around
school buses and escooters. We've got some fascinating articles from
the N three three two website to share with you,
and as a history buff with a passion for motoring,
I've dug into the archives to bring you some notable
events from this week in automotive history. So let's get
(06:12):
straight into it. First up, a look at some of
the headlines from the last week or two, we'll be
expanding on two stories, in particular the issue of false
alarms from the E Call system and the potential for
lower speed limits in the UK. The E Call system,
which automatically alerts emergency services after a serious crash, is
undoubtedly a crucial piece of in vehicle safety technology. However,
(06:36):
a new report from the UK has highlighted a significant problem.
A majority of activations are actually false alarms. While the
system is designed to save lives, this high number of
unnecessary calls is putting a considerable strain on emergency services
and perhaps more concerningly, could mean that real critical alerts
(06:57):
are mist This is a developing story and one will
be keeping a close eye on as the industry looks
for solutions to this technological hiccup. Whilst we all need
to do our bit to avoid incidents, A UK company
has launched what it claims is the world's first passively
safe electrical cabinet for road sides. The new cabinet, which
(07:18):
uses special bolts designed to break away on impact, is
intended to improve safety for drivers in the event of
a collision with roadside infrastructure. Next to a story that
will interest many of our British listeners, but is of
interest everywhere, especially with our back to school focus this month,
a leading UK road safety charity has launched a new
(07:38):
campaign calling on the government to lower the default speed
limit to twenty miles per hour on all roads where
children travel to and from school. The move is supported
by recent research which shows that twenty mile per hour
schemes have led to a reduction realities and injuries across
most modes of transport. We will jump back to Spain
now before we look at this week's articles, as there
(08:01):
is a slight positive in a dark cloud. The latest
report from the DGT indicates that road fatalities in Spain
decreased by six percent over the summer months compared to
the previous year. This positive trend was seen despite a
significant increase in the number of road trips. The report
highlights a reduction in fatalities among vulnerable road users such
(08:25):
as pedestrians and motorcyclists, although they still account for nearly
half of all victims. The primary causes of fatal accidents
were identified as vehicles leaving the roadway and head on collisions.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
If you'd like to get in touch with us You
can email news at N three three to two dot
ees or follow the contact links on the website.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Now we move on to the new articles we're publishing
on the N three to three to two dres website.
This week, with schools back, we focused on keeping children
safe on their journeys. First up, we have an important
article titled staying Safe on the School Bus. It's a
sobering thought, but each day hundreds of thousands of children
travel by bus across Spain. The article highlights that this
(09:11):
is statistically one of the safest ways for a child
to travel, but risks still exist. The Guardia Civil, the
DGT and local police will be running a nationwide campaign
later this year to focus on the use of seat
belts and child restraints on school buses. The article stresses
that if a bus is fitted with seat belts, they
(09:32):
must be worn. Research shows that wearing a seat belt
can cut the risk of a fatal injury in a
collision or rollover by up to ninety percent. Since two
thousand and seven, all new buses in Spain are required
to have seat belts. The article also provides a list
of simple rules for children to follow, like not running
(09:54):
to or from the bus and always waiting for the
driver's signal before crossing in front of the vehicle. It's
a fantastic practical guide for parents and children alike and
you can find it in full on our website. And
sticking with the topic of school transport, we also have
a follow up article for other road users sharing the
(10:14):
road with school buses in Spain. This piece is particularly
useful for visiting drivers who may not be familiar with
Spanish rules. The article explains that school buses in Spain
don't have a special color, but they do display a
yellow pictogram in their front and rear windows when carrying children.
This is your signal to be extra cautious. The article
(10:37):
explains that school buses are subject to lower speed limits
and may stop frequently, even in unofficial stops, to pick
up or drop off children. It's important to remember that
while it's not illegal to pass a stop school bus
in Spain, unlike in some other countries, extreme caution is essential.
The key is to slow down, expect the unexpected, and
(10:58):
give the bus plenty of space. Finally, an article about escooters,
or as they are known in Spain verhiculos, demobili dad
personal or VMPs. The piece E scooters Staying Safe on
the School run reminds us that these are not toys,
they are vehicles and they are treated as such under
(11:19):
the law. We've put together a guide for parents, young
riders and other road users. It covers everything from checking
local rules which can vary by municipality, to the importance
of wearing a helmet which can prevent life changing injuries.
The article also reminds young riders to follow road rules
just like cyclists and to stay visible, especially in low
(11:41):
light conditions. For drivers, the message is simple, give e
scooters space, expect the unexpected, and be patient. The DGT
has already confirmed new national laws are coming which are
expected to introduce a standard minimum age and make helmets
and insurance compulsory. And you can read all of these
articles in full on the N three to three to
(12:01):
two website. Just google us if you don't have us bookmarked,
and we highly recommend checking them out, especially if you
have children or simply want to be a safer driver
in Spain. And now for a look back in time.
As a motoring history fan, well a general history fan,
to be honest, I find it fascinating to see how
the past has shaped our present on the road. This
(12:24):
Week in Motoring History we look at the week of
the eighth to the fifteenth of September. One of the
most notable events is the International Auto Jumble at Bolieu
in Hampshire, UK. This event, held every September, is the
biggest outdoor soltering items this side of the Atlantic. It's
a massive gathering for motoring enthusiasts, bringing together everything from
(12:47):
spare parts and automobilia to historic vehicles for sale. It's
a fantastic opportunity to rummage, nata and haggle, and it's
a real institution in the UK classic car scener. Also,
we can't forget the Goodwood Revival. While it may have
just passed, its spirit lives on this week. It's an
(13:08):
immersive celebration of iconic cars and fashion from the forties
to the sixties. It's not just a car show. It's
a step back in time and an event that's also
forward thinking, with some races now being run on sustainable fuels.
This Week in History is a great reminder of the
passion and community that surrounds motoring, whether it's the search
(13:30):
for a rare part at an auto jumble or the
celebration of a bygone era at a classic race meeting,
and that brings us to the end of another episode.
I hope you found today's show useful and interesting. We've
covered crucial updates on road safety in Spain and the UK,
and taken a nostalgic look at motoring history. Remember to
(13:51):
visit our website end two dot ees for the full
articles we discussed today and to find more information and
resources on driving safely in Spain. Don't forget to subscribe
to the podcast to make sure you don't miss our
next episode. Thank you for listening, Drive Safely and we'll
see you next week.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
That was the N three three to two meter Spain podcast,
presented by Mark Nolan with the help of my and
my name is Lily and I am Mark's assistant. Like
the little wooden boy, nobody thought was real, totally unrelated
to my existence. If you want to know how we
use AI in these productions, you can find out all
(14:33):
about it on the website N three three two dot ees.
See you next time.