August 24, 2025 • 8 mins
In this week's N332 Driving in Spain Podcast, we dive into the latest road safety news and traffic updates from Spain and the UK, including the DGT's "Special August Operations" and a Bank Holiday traffic warning in the UK.
Our main features include crucial advice on what to do if you are caught in a wildfire while driving, an explanation of the dangerous "rebound effect" of stimulants like coffee on long journeys, and a simple guide to essential summer car fluid checks you can do yourself.
We also take a look back in motoring history to celebrate a major Spanish automotive anniversary.
For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!
Our main features include crucial advice on what to do if you are caught in a wildfire while driving, an explanation of the dangerous "rebound effect" of stimulants like coffee on long journeys, and a simple guide to essential summer car fluid checks you can do yourself.
We also take a look back in motoring history to celebrate a major Spanish automotive anniversary.
For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, and welcome back to the end three to three
to two Driving in Spain podcast for the week of Sunday,
the twenty fourth of August. I'm Mark Nolan, and as
always we're going to be talking about a few really
important topics that have been doing the rounds in the
motoring world. The General Director of Traffic in Spain, the DGT,
(00:20):
have been busy with their summer operations and will take
a look at what they've been up to. We'll also
be delving into some serious topics, including what to do
if you find yourself in the incredibly dangerous situation of
being caught in a wildfire while driving. And we'll also
talk about the rebound effect and why that quick coffee
isn't the solution to fatigue on a long journey. And finally,
(00:42):
we'll take a look back in motoring history with a
very special focus on an important Spanish anniversary. Let's begin
with the end, specifically the end of summer. This coming
weekend Mark's Operation Return on Spain's roads, where the bulk
of holiday makers head home inland from the coast. Operation
(01:03):
Return is the last major operation of the dgt's summer campaign.
August is historically the busiest month for travel and this weekend,
as I said, the busiest of them all. We will
look at the details later in the week on our
special n three to three to two Travel Updates podcast,
which you can get for free in addition to this one,
(01:25):
check the website for details. Ahead of the Bank holiday weekend,
Northern Ireland's Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins made a road safety appeal.
This comes with the release of the Northern Island Road
Safety Strategy annual statistical Report, which recorded sixty nine road
fatalities and nine hundred and thirty nine serious injuries in
twenty twenty four. The Minister urged drivers to be responsible
(01:48):
and plan their journeys carefully, highlighting that on average, one
life is lost on the roads there every week. Similar
warnings were made in the rest of the UK, with
a new report highlighting specific motorway sections that have seen
the most delays this year, with two of the top
five being in Greater Manchester. Back in Spain, a recent
(02:09):
change in Spanish traffic law means that if your vehicle
does not have a valid ITV inspection technical devehiculos, your
car insurance may be considered invalid. This is a crucial
piece of information for all drivers in Spain as it
could lead to significant fines and penalties for non compliance.
Now let's turn our attention to the three big topics
(02:31):
that will be featured on the end three to three
to two website this week. They're all about safety, but
from very different perspectives. First, let's talk about wildfires. It's
a sad reality that every summer, particularly here in Spain,
we see a rise in the number and severity of
forest fires. While authorities do their best to close off roads,
(02:52):
there's always a small chance you could find yourself caught
in one. It's a terrifying thought, but knowing what to
do can be a life save. Our first article, which
will be on the website, outlines a series of steps
you need to know. The immediate priority is to stay
calm and assess the situation. Panic can lead to dangerous decisions.
You should never attempt to drive through flames, as the
(03:15):
extreme heat can cause your tires to burst and toxic
gases can enter your vehicle's cabin. If you're near smoke
or fire, you must close all your windows and turn
off the ventilation system immediately. This prevents the ingress of
highly toxic gases like carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. The
(03:36):
article advises that if you are trapped, the safest place
to be is inside your vehicle. It may seem counterintuitive,
but a car's interior offers a degree of protection, at
least for a short time. It's far more dangerous to
run on foot in dense smoke and poor visibility. If
you have to wait it out, you should part your
car in the clearest area possible, preferably with the rear
(03:57):
of the car facing the fire. As the end engine
is more flammable, you should turn off the engine, leave
your hazard lights on, and get as low as possible
inside the car. Once the firefront has passed, you should
still wait a few minutes for the smoke to clear
before carefully proceeding. Next, we're focusing on a phenomenon called
the rebound effect, which is something many of us are
(04:19):
guilty of without even realizing it. We've all done it.
We're tired on a long journey, so we stop for
a coffee or an energy drink, thinking it's a quick
fix to stay alert. Our second article explains why this
can be so dangerous. The rebound effect is your body's
response to the temporary masking of fatigue by a stimulant.
You get a short burst of energy and a false
(04:40):
sense of confidence, but this high is short lived when
the effect wears us off. The crash is often more
intense than the initial fatigue, drastically reducing your reaction time.
The DGT in Spain warns that excessive caffeine consumption isn't
a long term solution and actively contributes to this dangerous effect.
(05:04):
The symptoms can be subtle, from a sudden feeling of
sleepiness to slower reflexes and even micro sleeps brief involuntary
periods of sleep while you're still behind the wheel. The
only true solution to fatigue is proper rest and sleep
before a long journey. And finally, we're moving on to
something a little more practical. With the height of summer. Here,
(05:26):
it's essential to make sure your car is in good
condition to handle the heat. A third and final article
for the week, which you'll find on the N three
to three to two website, is a simple guide to
essential fluid checks you can do yourself. The article covers
three key fluids. First, engine oil, it's the lifeblood of
(05:46):
your engine, and checking it is straightforward. You need to
make sure your car is on a flat surface and
the engine is cold. The dipstick will show you if
the level is between them in and max Marx, and
if it's not, you need to top it up with
the right kind of oil. Second coolant. This is crucial
for preventing your engine from overheating in the summer heat. Again,
(06:09):
it is absolutely vital that you only check this when
the engine is completely cold. The reservoir has clear in
and MAX marks, and if you need to add more,
you must use the correct type of coolant, never just
plain water. And Third, windscreen washer fluid. It's the simplest
check but so important for maintaining clear vision. The article
(06:32):
recommends using proper washer fluid and avoiding plain water as
it doesn't clean effectively and can leave deposits that clog
the system. It's all about making sure your car is
as ready as you are for the road. Now for
our weekly look back into motoring history. The week of
the twenty fourth of August is a big one for
car enthusiasts, particularly in the UK, as it's the week
(06:54):
of the Salon Prevey at Blenheim Palace and the Silverstone
Classic Festival. But here in Stace, we also have an
important motoring anniversary that we're celebrating this week. On the
twenty seventh of August nineteen fifty three, the first sea
At car rolled off the production line in Spain. The
company Sociadad Espanola de Automobiles de Turismo had been founded
(07:16):
three years earlier in collaboration with Fiat. The first car
to be produced was the sea At fourteen hundred, a
four door saloon that quickly became a symbol of prosperity
in Spain. It was based on the fia At fourteen hundred,
but from the beginning, sea AT's goal was to not
just assemble cars, but to design and manufacture them in Spain.
This was a hugely significant moment for Spanish industry, and
(07:39):
the sea At fourteen hundred paved the way for a
whole series of popular models, including the iconic six hundred,
which mobilized the country and became a household name. The
sea At brand is still a huge part of Spain's culture,
and it all started with that single car all those
years ago. That's all for this week's podcast. I hope
(08:04):
you found the information useful and insightful. Don't forget. All
of the articles we've talked about today will be on
the N three three to two meter website from this
Sunday so you can check them out in full, and
if you have any questions or comments, you can always
find us on our website or social media. Make sure
you're subscribed so you don't miss next week's episode, and
(08:24):
until then, stay safe on the road.
Hello, and welcome back to the end three to three
to two Driving in Spain podcast for the week of Sunday,
the twenty fourth of August. I'm Mark Nolan, and as
always we're going to be talking about a few really
important topics that have been doing the rounds in the
motoring world. The General Director of Traffic in Spain, the DGT,
(00:20):
have been busy with their summer operations and will take
a look at what they've been up to. We'll also
be delving into some serious topics, including what to do
if you find yourself in the incredibly dangerous situation of
being caught in a wildfire while driving. And we'll also
talk about the rebound effect and why that quick coffee
isn't the solution to fatigue on a long journey. And finally,
(00:42):
we'll take a look back in motoring history with a
very special focus on an important Spanish anniversary. Let's begin
with the end, specifically the end of summer. This coming
weekend Mark's Operation Return on Spain's roads, where the bulk
of holiday makers head home inland from the coast. Operation
(01:03):
Return is the last major operation of the dgt's summer campaign.
August is historically the busiest month for travel and this weekend,
as I said, the busiest of them all. We will
look at the details later in the week on our
special n three to three to two Travel Updates podcast,
which you can get for free in addition to this one,
(01:25):
check the website for details. Ahead of the Bank holiday weekend,
Northern Ireland's Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins made a road safety appeal.
This comes with the release of the Northern Island Road
Safety Strategy annual statistical Report, which recorded sixty nine road
fatalities and nine hundred and thirty nine serious injuries in
twenty twenty four. The Minister urged drivers to be responsible
(01:48):
and plan their journeys carefully, highlighting that on average, one
life is lost on the roads there every week. Similar
warnings were made in the rest of the UK, with
a new report highlighting specific motorway sections that have seen
the most delays this year, with two of the top
five being in Greater Manchester. Back in Spain, a recent
(02:09):
change in Spanish traffic law means that if your vehicle
does not have a valid ITV inspection technical devehiculos, your
car insurance may be considered invalid. This is a crucial
piece of information for all drivers in Spain as it
could lead to significant fines and penalties for non compliance.
Now let's turn our attention to the three big topics
(02:31):
that will be featured on the end three to three
to two website this week. They're all about safety, but
from very different perspectives. First, let's talk about wildfires. It's
a sad reality that every summer, particularly here in Spain,
we see a rise in the number and severity of
forest fires. While authorities do their best to close off roads,
(02:52):
there's always a small chance you could find yourself caught
in one. It's a terrifying thought, but knowing what to
do can be a life save. Our first article, which
will be on the website, outlines a series of steps
you need to know. The immediate priority is to stay
calm and assess the situation. Panic can lead to dangerous decisions.
You should never attempt to drive through flames, as the
(03:15):
extreme heat can cause your tires to burst and toxic
gases can enter your vehicle's cabin. If you're near smoke
or fire, you must close all your windows and turn
off the ventilation system immediately. This prevents the ingress of
highly toxic gases like carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. The
(03:36):
article advises that if you are trapped, the safest place
to be is inside your vehicle. It may seem counterintuitive,
but a car's interior offers a degree of protection, at
least for a short time. It's far more dangerous to
run on foot in dense smoke and poor visibility. If
you have to wait it out, you should part your
car in the clearest area possible, preferably with the rear
(03:57):
of the car facing the fire. As the end engine
is more flammable, you should turn off the engine, leave
your hazard lights on, and get as low as possible
inside the car. Once the firefront has passed, you should
still wait a few minutes for the smoke to clear
before carefully proceeding. Next, we're focusing on a phenomenon called
the rebound effect, which is something many of us are
(04:19):
guilty of without even realizing it. We've all done it.
We're tired on a long journey, so we stop for
a coffee or an energy drink, thinking it's a quick
fix to stay alert. Our second article explains why this
can be so dangerous. The rebound effect is your body's
response to the temporary masking of fatigue by a stimulant.
You get a short burst of energy and a false
(04:40):
sense of confidence, but this high is short lived when
the effect wears us off. The crash is often more
intense than the initial fatigue, drastically reducing your reaction time.
The DGT in Spain warns that excessive caffeine consumption isn't
a long term solution and actively contributes to this dangerous effect.
(05:04):
The symptoms can be subtle, from a sudden feeling of
sleepiness to slower reflexes and even micro sleeps brief involuntary
periods of sleep while you're still behind the wheel. The
only true solution to fatigue is proper rest and sleep
before a long journey. And finally, we're moving on to
something a little more practical. With the height of summer. Here,
(05:26):
it's essential to make sure your car is in good
condition to handle the heat. A third and final article
for the week, which you'll find on the N three
to three to two website, is a simple guide to
essential fluid checks you can do yourself. The article covers
three key fluids. First, engine oil, it's the lifeblood of
(05:46):
your engine, and checking it is straightforward. You need to
make sure your car is on a flat surface and
the engine is cold. The dipstick will show you if
the level is between them in and max Marx, and
if it's not, you need to top it up with
the right kind of oil. Second coolant. This is crucial
for preventing your engine from overheating in the summer heat. Again,
(06:09):
it is absolutely vital that you only check this when
the engine is completely cold. The reservoir has clear in
and MAX marks, and if you need to add more,
you must use the correct type of coolant, never just
plain water. And Third, windscreen washer fluid. It's the simplest
check but so important for maintaining clear vision. The article
(06:32):
recommends using proper washer fluid and avoiding plain water as
it doesn't clean effectively and can leave deposits that clog
the system. It's all about making sure your car is
as ready as you are for the road. Now for
our weekly look back into motoring history. The week of
the twenty fourth of August is a big one for
car enthusiasts, particularly in the UK, as it's the week
(06:54):
of the Salon Prevey at Blenheim Palace and the Silverstone
Classic Festival. But here in Stace, we also have an
important motoring anniversary that we're celebrating this week. On the
twenty seventh of August nineteen fifty three, the first sea
At car rolled off the production line in Spain. The
company Sociadad Espanola de Automobiles de Turismo had been founded
(07:16):
three years earlier in collaboration with Fiat. The first car
to be produced was the sea At fourteen hundred, a
four door saloon that quickly became a symbol of prosperity
in Spain. It was based on the fia At fourteen hundred,
but from the beginning, sea AT's goal was to not
just assemble cars, but to design and manufacture them in Spain.
This was a hugely significant moment for Spanish industry, and
(07:39):
the sea At fourteen hundred paved the way for a
whole series of popular models, including the iconic six hundred,
which mobilized the country and became a household name. The
sea At brand is still a huge part of Spain's culture,
and it all started with that single car all those
years ago. That's all for this week's podcast. I hope
(08:04):
you found the information useful and insightful. Don't forget. All
of the articles we've talked about today will be on
the N three three to two meter website from this
Sunday so you can check them out in full, and
if you have any questions or comments, you can always
find us on our website or social media. Make sure
you're subscribed so you don't miss next week's episode, and
(08:24):
until then, stay safe on the road.
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