Mac's Poll - Let's Vote

TRAFFIC authorities in Spain are considering making speed-limiting technology obligatory in all newly-manufactured cars in a bid to reduce crash deaths on roads.

Leader of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), Pere Navarro believes that the system preventing a car from travelling above the speed limit – a device that already exists – could prevent up to 400 fatalities a year by cutting serious accidents by at least 20%.

But whether or not this technology becomes compulsory for new vehicles, Navarro says it is 'probably a good idea' to review and increase the number of speed limit signs, since it is not always clear what the permitted maximum is.

The 'smart-speed' system, according to the DGT boss, was the subject of a research project in Norway in 2014 and found to be the 'most efficient' at saving lives.

In fact, it could be the 'most important feature, after the air-bag' at doing so, Navarro believes.

He says road crash deaths have been steadily climbing in Spain for the last four years, and reveals that 77% of fatalities happen on secondary highways rather than motorways.

Of all deaths recorded, 36% are caused by the car veering off the road and 28% by head-on smashes – and even where the proximate cause of these are alcohol, drugs, fatigue or distraction, the speed of the vehicles involved makes a difference as to the outcome.

“The faster the cars are travelling, the worse the accident tends to be,” Navarro points out.

These observations were made during the MAPFRE Foundation's latest road safety conference, jointly organised by the European Council for Transport Safety and the DGT.

Head of Accident Prevention and Road Safety at high-street insurance company MAPFRE, Jesús Monclús says the 'smart-speed' system reads the limit signs on roads and adjusts the car's speed accordingly if it is travelling faster than this, as well as preventing the vehicle from getting too close to the one in front – even activating the brake if necessary.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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[SOURCE : https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/spainnews/18595/speed-control-technology-could-become-compulsory-in-spanish-cars.aspx]

Recently I saw an article on EOS, which was removed shortly after,  about why people shouldn´t pay their last month´s rent in Spain. Personally I think it is an irresponsible request to make and illegal, so I am not surprised it was taken off the site but it did make me think about the general belief in Spain that exists about a tenant's last month´s rent payment - that it shouldn´t be paid because you will never get your deposit back...

I have been living in Spain for many years and I have rented numerous flats and not once have I not received my deposit back. I have always paid the last months rent and after an inspection then used to the deposit to pay off utility bills that still haven't been charged. I would calculate the average monthly consumption from the previous three months and then divide it by 30 and then multiply it by the days outstanding to be paid up to the day I hand back the keys. This way the landlord is assured he will have the money to pay the bills when I have gone. The deposut is something I always want to get back when I hand back the keys so I agree this with my landlord first, I have an inspection a week before I hand back the keys and another inspection the day I hand back the keys, but that day he also has the deposit money  prepared minus the outstanding utilities payments which we have estimated previously. Not once have I had any problems with this formula. Make sure you agree it on signing the contract or before you hand in your 30 day notice. Ther is no reason why he/she shouldn't accept. It is fair and transparent, what most landlords want.

Thinking you can always offset the 1 or 2 months’ rental security deposit against your unpaid rent is not correct. You cannot. That two month’s initial security deposit serves its own legal purpose and at no time can be used to compensate rental shortfalls unless you agree this in writing with your landlord before leaving the property.

However this said, a lot of people still think that they will not get their deposit back and thus don´t pay the last rental fees, hoping that the landlord won´t go to court as it will cost him too much money to do so and they walk away from the property owing rent but losing their deposit....my question is what do these people do about outstanding utility bills? Leave them unpaid too? 

What do you think? Would you pay or advise someone to pay their last month's rent in Spain? Please cast your vote...

FYI - https://www.mundojuridico.info/deposito-de-la-fianza-de-alquiler-en-la-comunidad-valenciana/