Mark Nolan's Podcast

This week on the N332 Driving in Spain Podcast, Mark Nolan delivers urgent safety information and traffic alerts as Spain heads into autumn. We dissect the DGT’s latest, worrying statistics showing that vulnerable road users now account for half of all road fatalities, underscoring the vital need to eliminate distraction, alcohol, and speed.A critical warning is issued regarding the EU’s new Entry-Exit System (EES), scheduled for a phased rollout starting October 12th, which is set to fundamentally change how non-EU citizens cross the border, with potential for significant travel delays.We also detail the DGT’s forthcoming national School Transport Safety Campaign, which will see intensified checks on buses, drivers, and seatbelt compliance in November.Finally, Mark covers essential autumn driving tips, from checking your tyres and wipers to extreme vigilance around schools, and we close with a trip through Spanish motoring history. All safety documents discussed this week are available for read on the N332 website.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

This week we bring you urgent lessons from tragedies and policy changes across Europe, combined with fresh initiatives here in Spain. Our September focus continues: school run safety, cycling protection, and safer mobility for all.Our main articles on N332.es this week focus on essential topics for autumn: a detailed guide to road safety near schools, a stark reminder that the only safe limit for alcohol and driving in Spain is zero, and vital tips for staying visible as the days get shorter.Plus, we'll take a trip back in time to this week in history to look at a key milestone in Spanish motoring.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

In this week's episode, we put the spotlight on the school run, delving into the rules and responsibilities for all road users. We cover essential safety tips for parents and children who walk or cycle to school, including the legal requirements for helmets and lights, and the importance of visibility. We also provide clear guidance for drivers on how to interact safely with vulnerable road users, such as the 1.5-metre overtaking rule for cyclists and the need to slow down near schools. We break down common misconceptions about pedestrian priority under Spanish law and remind everyone that road safety is a shared responsibility. Plus, we take a look back at key moments in Spanish motoring history. Tune in to ensure your family's journey to school is a safe and healthy one.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

It is one of those key weeks this week when we start a new quarter, so lots of financial bodies are preparing with brand new spreadsheets.In the business sector, the results of Solaria and Tesco will stand out, along with Nike, among others.As will the payment of dividends by Banco Sabadell and Ebro Foods.We will break down what is happening in Spain, Europe, the UK and beyond each day this week, as well as what is happening on the roads, as this is The Week Ahead, brought to you by SpanishVida.com and N332.es. Also, next week, I will have some exciting news to share with you regarding how you can listen to this information each week. I could tell you now, but I have a couple of little plugs to connect first, so I will definitely tell you next week. #spoileralert, you will be able to listen in more ways!For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

It’s an important week for the tourism sector in Spain as hotel occupancy figures are published ahead of World Tourism Day, and a big week for Keir Starmer in the UK as he delivers his conference speech before jetting off to the United Nations where the UN General Assembly’s General Debate is set to take place.This is The Week Ahead, back after the summer break, in Spain, the UK, and some parts of the world.Visit marknolanspodcast.com for more details.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

Could This Week be Decisive of Divisive for Europe? This is The Week Ahead.  As we build up the last leg of the run up to the European Elections, there will be a lot of focus on the candidates this week. There are also elections this week in Belgium, Switzerland, Cyprus, and Hungary.I suppose, on the subject of elections, we cannon not mention the televised debate in the UK this week, although it will no doubt just end up like two pigeons showing their chests rather than actually proposing solutions.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

We have arrived at the last week of May, before we embark on June at the weekend, a month that sees schools in Spain close for the summer, and one of the biggest celebrations across the Valencia region, which also means another Monday off for many, San Juan.We will talk more about that next week, for now we will return to The Week Ahead. It is largely a quiet week for business, as it’s the end of the month, with little in the way of results or references, but there’s still a bit to keep us occupied.Did somebody mention an election? Okay, we know that the UK will be dominated by campaigning for a while now, we will try not to mention it too much here, other than perhaps mentioning the deadlines, and of course we have the European elections before that, for those eligible to vote.However, this week also sees another important election, which might go unnoticed, taking place in South Africa.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

This is The Week Ahead from Monday 20 May 2024, looking at what will be making the news in Spain, the UK, Europe and beyond.A couple of dates for your diary that might interest you, in the Valencia region, schools finish for summer on 21 June, which means about 5 weeks now until the summer holidays.More locally, in Torrevieja, those affected by the closure of the “wibbly, wobbly” road between the CV-905 and Auditorium area should be excited by the fact there is now only 2 weeks left on the closure notice, although there´s no sign of the road being ready yet.Another thing to look out for however is that the work to connect the CV-905 with the new Lagoons Village urbanisation has now been marked out on the CV-905, so that main arterial road will soon be the scene of roadworks for the creation of the next new roundabout.This week also sees a special day for recognising the importance of bees, and from my hometown of Manchester, the anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

The beginning of the week will stand out for the absence of relevant macroeconomic references, although the climate will be a focus, if anyone actually takes notice, but the week will explode with figures on Tuesday and Wednesday, before retreating for a quieter end to the week.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

It´s a big week for the workers in Spain as the national holiday of Labour Day is celebrated in the middle of the week, Wednesday, making various variations to the working week of 2 in, 1 off, 2 in, and some people taking a long weekend either side, and others taking the whole week off. As a result, the traffic situation will also be complicated on the roads.Airplane buffs have also got the San Javier Air Show to look forward to this weekend.In the UK, the Conservatives are going to have a great week and Labour will not do very well, or at least that is what we will no doubt be told, despite the evidence before our eyes, as local elections take place.Also in the UK, the Rwanda Bill will… Checks notes… Wait, what? It was passed? Well, that’s the end of that story then, in a week where Ryanair has suggested they would be prepared to fly the refugees to Rwanda, in their aircraft which are not physically capable of reaching the destination city… You can insert your own joke about Ryanair flying to airports some considerable distance from the cities they advertise.There will not be an update next week, I will return for 13 May 2024.Let us look at The Week Ahead in Spain, the UK, Europe and beyond…For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

This week is a significant one for celebrations in both England and Spain, although the Spanish version is somewhat more romantic, and it is also a week to be wary of lunatics (original meaning) and werewolves!We also have lots of business and financial reports this week, and statisticians are going to be busy working out what the countless reports of the week mean to us mere mortals. Plus, we have a roundup of things to do and events coming up this week specifically of interest around the Torrevieja area, and in the future and further afield, from music and culture to sports and spectacles.For regular updates and things to do, pick up The Leader newspaper out every Monday.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

There is a lot going on this week around the world, and we’re not even going to mention Donald Trump! Apart from Thursday, when nothing significant is planned.All this week, ROADPOL, the European Traffic Police Network, will be carrying out a speed awareness and enforcement campaign, focussing on one of the Fatal 4 most contributing factors in road traffic collisions.Let us have a look at The Week Ahead, day by day, then look at future events taking place around Spain in case you are looking for things to do.Read more on the website, marknolanspodcast.comFor more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

This is The Week Ahead, looking at what will be making the news this week in Spain, the UK, and Europe, in a week in which markets are subdued, with Spain observing several local holidays, including San Vicente de Ferrer.Germany will release February's industrial production and trade balance data, highlighting Europe's economic fragility. Spain and the US will sign a Social Security Agreement to facilitate worker mobility and economic activity.The UK and Europe face various financial announcements, with the ECB's meeting drawing investor focus. Expectations point to the ECB initiating policy easing in June.North America will experience a total solar eclipse, while Spain won't see a full eclipse until 2090.Notable corporate and economic updates include results from Delta Airlines, Tesco, and BBVA dividends.Spain will conclude the week with March CPI data and shareholder meetings for Ferrovial and Telefónica.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

Although the roads in many places are already busier than usual due to the Easter holidays, things are set to get even busier as we head towards the Easter weekend. Here, we have the breakdown on the busiest times in certain areas for each day.If you are travelling long distance, you should plan your journey in advance and then monitor the situation before you set off, avoiding the busiest times of possible.If you are travelling locally, the situation will still be busier than normal, and many of the drivers will not be as used to the road system as you are, so, again, allow more time for your journey, and be patient and considerate.Here is the traffic forecast for the roads of Spain for each day of the Easter holiday period.Vitist the website, n332.es, for links to live traffic and weather information.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

This week is Easter week, one of the most important religious celebrations in Spain, and so there will be lots of themed activities surrounding that, but it also means a relatively quiet week in the world of business and the news from Spain.It’s not going to be so quiet on the roads however, so the special Easter traffic operation continues, and we will have a varied holiday schedule depending where you are, but as we are based in the Torrevieja area, we will look at that in particular.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

This is The Week Ahead for Monday 18 March 2024, a week in which we celebrate Father´s Day in Spain, and in financial and business news inflation and labour costs will be the main focus.We are looking at what will be making the news in Spain, the UK, and Europe for the week ahead, as well as some events over the next few weeks offering something for everyone in Spain.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

In The Week Ahead this week, the UK news will be dominated by Rwanda, and across Europe the current general financial situation.On the roads, there is an important focus campaign all this week, and a double focus next weekend, not forgetting that major road closure we mentioned in Torrevieja.Finally, we have a look at some of the events taking place, and a reminder that after this week we get three weeks with holiday days in most of Spain.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

In The Week Ahead this week, the UK news will be dominated by the budget and Rwanda, and in Spain the unemployment figures and labour market will lead the week.I also have two very important announcements specifically for the Torrevieja area, one with details of a major road closure which is likely to cause chaos, and the second is an appeal for information about a Torrevieja resident, now sadly deceased. Finally, we have a look at some of the events taking place in various areas of Spain throughout March and beyond, including concerts, airshows, car shows, and more.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

Sarah Everard will be making the news this week in the UK, and we celebrate International Polar Bear Day, we have a look the news headlines for the week ahead, including financial markets and business, and global headlines, plus the celebration in Spain of one of the most culturally rich areas of the country, Andalusia.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!

This week, ROADPOL, the European traffic police network, are holding a focussed campaign on vans, trucks and buses, checking everything from vehicle standards and compliance, and driver and documentation.The campaign runs all week and through Sunday 25 February 2024, and will be taking place in most European countries. In Spain, the DGT are supporting this campaign and so the Guardia Civil, assisted by Local Police in areas where they are taking part, will also be checking on these types of vehicles. There is also still the possibility of protests causing disruption on the roads, and so you should consult the official information from the DGT which is updated live on their website. We also still have the risk of snow on higher and mountainous areas, and so snow chains could be required, again, check before you travel.For more updates, visit Mark Nolan's Podcast!