Repsol YPF

After the introduction of the new registration tax in Spain on 1st January, there is data available concerning its effect on the spending habits of Spanish drivers during the first quarter of 2008. An average of €389 has been saved by drivers who have bought a vehicle in the first three months of the year.

May 2008 has seen the introduuction of new traffic laws and the DGT – Traffic department - has introduced important changes. The approval of the reformed Código Penal – Penal Code - and its enforcement establishes that driving without having passed the relevant driving test as a serious offence, offenders can be punished with either prison sentences or community work.

The special controls set up by the DGT – Traffic Department – over the last few days, for the Mayday Bank holiday, ended with three fewer victims than in the same period last year. Likewise, the month of April has finished with positive figures, that is to say the number of accidents has decreased significantly compared to 2007.

The DGT - Dirección General de Tráfico Traffic department – has set up traffic controls to regulate and organise the traffic on the roads around Spain during the Bank holiday weekend. The intention being to make the approximately 6.6 million trips made by car into a safer experience. The DGT has included more measures than those taken during the same period last year.

The two features that catch the eye on the new compact sports car from Alfa Romeo the Mi.To is its marked city look, because of its small size, and its obvious sporty character. This car marks the beginning of a new era for the Italian firm, which has combined the latest technology with a pure design and Italian styling on this city sports car, something that has always characterised the vehicles it has ever made.

The quality of infrastructures is an issue that often crops up at European level and unfortunately Spain comes off worst many times. But this time the EuroTAP has carried out a study of tunnels around Europe and those in Spain have got good marks – one of the best evaluations regarding safety and quality in Europe.