Spain's DGT Advises Against Turning Wheels While Parked and Misusing Hazard Lights

The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) notes that leaving a vehicle’s wheels turned while parked is not mandated by the General Traffic Regulations, but it can place continuous tension on hydraulic power‑steering systems, accelerating wear of joints, causing fluid leaks and potentially damaging the suspension. The practice is only justified on steep slopes, where turning the wheels toward the curb (downhill) or toward the road centre (uphill) can act as a mechanical brake if the handbrake fails.

The DGT also points out that the current traffic code (article 109) still requires drivers to signal an immobilised vehicle by hand gestures, even though modern cars are equipped with ABS and hazard lights. The law predates these technologies and is considered outdated. While using hazard lights is safer in practice, the regulation technically calls for hand signals. The European Union will mandate advanced emergency‑braking systems (AEB and ESS) from 7 July 2026, which automatically warn following drivers of sudden deceleration, moving safety standards closer to a zero‑fatality target for 2050.