A Spanish black market in red triangles

WHEN YOU next drive to Spain, take two traffic triangles with you, or better still, four. You can make a profit selling the spare pair to grateful Spaniards.

Traffic authorities caused panic buying three months ago by stipulating that all vehicles must carry two triangles instead of one. Three months later there is still a national triangle shortage.

Millions of Spanish drivers have become involuntary traffic offenders and foreigners run the same risk. A consumers' association in Portugal, which, like the rest of Europe, requires only one triangle, has complained to the European Commission, claiming the measure violates Europe's principle of the free circulation of persons.

"Every vehicle that uses Spanish roads is obliged to carry two triangles," says a Spanish traffic spokesman "one for in front of the broken down vehicle and one for behind." But what about foreign visitors? The unyielding reply: "When drivers travel into another country they must obey the legislation that applies there."

The new regulation was adopted in July, as Spaniards set off for their annual round of summer holiday road carnage. This year 1,042 people died in 10 weeks.

Although the authorities say police will use discretion, it is the kind of silly rule that can be implemented when it suits them. Until recently Spain required drivers who wore glasses to carry a spare pair. The only time this was enforced was when Madrid wanted to make life difficult for those crossing into Gibraltar.

None of this, of course, has any effect on Spain's road death toll, which is caused overwhelmingly by drink or driving too fast - or, most commonly, both.

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