New ‘2+1′ Road sign: One slip costs €200 and 4 points

Spain’s road network is getting a quiet upgrade this summer – and one new road sign is already catching drivers out. It’s the S-1c ‘Carretera 2+1′ panel, and if you treat it like any old three-lane road, you could be €200 lighter and up to four licence points down. This is what it means, the reason why DGT has introduced it, and a guide on how to use it.

What Spain’s ‘Carretera 2+1′ actually means

Consider a 2+1 as a smart halfway house between an ordinary single-lane road and a fully-fledged dual carriageway. Three lanes are available: one each way and a middle lane that alternates with the two traffic flows to allow for safe, regulated passing.

S-1c is a sign that marks the beginning of one of these sections (you may also see it at a ramp going onto a 2+1). The white panel literally says “CARRETERA” and has a diagram that shows the middle lane is reversible. Once you’re on the section, the road markings do the heavy lifting: broken lines and arrows indicate when the centre lane belongs to you, while solid lines and lane-drop markings tell you hands off — it’s reserved for oncoming traffic.

Why bother? Head-on collisions are still the most deadly type of accident on conventional roads. By creating predictable overtaking windows — especially on long hills or busy single carriageways — the DGT can cut risky passes without the cost and land-take of building a motorway.

How to use the center lane without losing any points

The centre lane does not constitute a bonus fast-lane. This is a borrowed space that’s available only when signs and markings say so. It’s also only for overtaking.

• Enter the middle lane You can only get it by clicking here When it is open in your direction. On some sections you’ll also see arrows and broken lines.
• Take the overtake quickly, and then return to the left lane. You should never cruise in the center.
• Respect solid lines and any ‘flip’ markings that close the lane to your side – that’s the handover to oncoming traffic.
• Keep the basics tight: mirror–signal–manoeuvre, adequate visibility, safe following distance. Abandon the pass if the window is closing.

Penalties: Misuse can be recorded as a serious infraction. Expect €200 and up to 4 points if you invade the centre lane when it isn’t assigned to you or you complete an illegal/dangerous overtake against the markings. If you force oncoming traffic to brake or swerve, you’re practically asking for the maximum sanction — and worse.

Police continue to make the same common mistakes

• It is common to treat the middle lane as a third permanent lane, because it feels slower.
• Start the pass while the allocations are flipped. Then, finish by straddling solids.
• Hesitating in the middle of an overtake or lingering on the center lane. If you cannot complete the overtake safely, pull out early and then try again once the lane is on your side.

Why the DGT is adding it and where you can see it

You’ll mainly meet 2+1 sections on interurban routes where a motorway upgrade isn’t realistic but traffic volumes — or long gradients — justify extra overtaking capacity. You’ll see the S-1c at the beginning of each alternate stretch. Then, repeat the signage when the allocation changes directions. The pattern is often used on hilly corridors to give the uphill side of the road the center lane, and then hand it back the next segment.

Clarity, consistency, and better visibility are at the heart of DGT’s wider refreshment of its sign catalogue. The layouts anticipate ebikes, e-scooters, and modern traffic. The 2+1 concept fits that push – it adds safety without massive construction, shortens queues behind slow movers, and reduces the temptation for sketchy overtakes on single carriageways.

If you see the “CARRETERA” sign, read the markings and treat the center lane as reversible. Use it only to make a clean pass before returning. If you do it correctly, everyone will get through safely. Do it wrong and you’ve just bought yourself a €200 bill and up to four lost points — the most expensive few hundred metres you’ll drive all week.