On the shoulder of this high-capacity divided highway (autovía), what are you allowed to do?

Correct answer: Stop the vehicle because of an emergency or a breakdown.

Stopping voluntarily and parking are choices you make, and on a freeway (autopista) or high-capacity divided highway (autovía) you may do either only in designated areas, such as rest areas and service areas. You may remain on the shoulder only when a breakdown or emergency forces you to, and this is called Detention. That is the situation with the passenger car in the picture, stopped on the shoulder with its hazard lights on while the person wearing a safety vest waits behind the guardrail.

Real Decreto 1428/2003, de 21 de noviembre, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento General de Circulación · Real Decreto 1428/2003, de 21 de noviembre, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento General de Circulación