Just a quick update, this came about after chatting with some new to Spain tourists.
This couple were driving down a carriageway when the were flagged down by a guy in a 'Hi Vis' and a big bright Red flag. They did not speak any Spanish but the guy waved them on, and so they were confused as to why he had waved them down in the first place.
Eventually they came across some road works where there was a contraflow.
If you come across someone waving a Red flag it does not mean stop. It means drive on past me with caution and expect something out of the ordinary. This could range from a broken down vehicle to extensive road works.
If you are requested to stop by a non uniformed police office, then it will be a guy again in Hi Vis jacket but he will have a 'paddle' clearly displaying the STOP sign in red and white. When it is clear to proceed the paddle will be turned over to show a white arrow on a blue background.
I know the STOP sign might be obvious but if you brake for a guy waving the red flag you could end up being rear ended. I appreciate the car should not be close behind but it could happen.
I may have told you this before but, if you are driving through a built up area and someone sitting in a parked car suddenly throws open the car door and you hit it, then YOU are at fault unless you have a witness! I honestly said there is no way this could be right I mean, it flies in the face of all logic, so checked it out and in the region of Murcia it seems this it true. Other provinces I cannot speak for.
Self service petrol garages are becoming more evident, so don't pull up and wait, as you could be there for a long while. Given there used to be only assisted garages it is not uncommon for diesel 'A' and 'B' to be on the same 'island', the person filling your tank would know this and take due care, he or she would be in big trouble if they put 'Red' in a private vehicle used on public roads. In the event you are stopped and found to have 'RED' then your vehicle could be confiscated there and then, I think there are similar rules in the UK. ALWAYS ask for a 'ticket', if you have the ticket and it was put in by the attendant or you have had petrol put in your diesel (OTOWA), car you have some recourse from a legal point of view. Whilst 24 hour garages are still rare there are some automated versions appearing. Some have English instructions, the very latest installation where I live has nothing in English, I have suggested they put instructions in English, and the staff member was going to have a chat with the boss? Some systems accept credit cards, and some accept both cards and cash.
Spain has always had a strict rule where you could not buy cigarettes at a petrol garage........until recently. This has now changed, in particular since 'Carrefour' started opening supermarkets and even taking ownership of the shops situated inside some petrol garages. We now have a Cepsa garage, with a Carrefour shop, and they do sell cigarettes. Beer is available at most garages, Burger King, (no burgers today though only chicken, ask me how I know!!) Macy Dee's also sell beer.
Supermarkets may have a ciggy machine but, if there is none in sight then point to the counter when asking, they will have a few packets of 'their' supply, stashed under there.
regards
Dave