The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved significant amendments to the General Traffic Regulations, impacting overtaking manoeuvres involving cyclists and stationary vehicles. These changes also introduce new obligations for users of motorcycles, mopeds, and personal mobility vehicles. Set to take effect on 1st October 2026, with some specific provisions following in 2027, the primary objective is to enhance the safety of vulnerable road users, a category encompassing pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and e-scooter riders.<\/p>\n
Key measures include mandatory speed reduction when overtaking cyclists, compulsory helmet use for personal mobility vehicle users and cyclists, and the requirement for motorcyclists to wear gloves and closed-toe footwear. These new regulations will affect millions of drivers across Spain, marking a substantial shift in Spanish road culture and aligning safety standards with those in other European nations. The Directorate-General for Traffic anticipates these regulatory modifications, developed in consultation with cycling associations, motorcyclist groups, and urban mobility platforms, will significantly reduce accident rates among the most vulnerable groups.<\/p>\n
New Overtaking Rules for Cyclists on Roads<\/p>\n
The amendment introduces substantial changes to how drivers must overtake cyclists on interurban roads. From 1st October 2026, any driver passing a cyclist will be required to reduce their speed by at least 20 kilometres per hour below the posted limit for that road. This measure aims to significantly increase the safety margin during a manoeuvre that has historically been a cause of numerous fatal accidents. On carriageways with more than one lane per direction of travel, the overtaking driver must completely change lanes; merely partially encroaching on the adjacent lane will no longer suffice.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, a minimum lateral separation of 1.5 metres from the cyclist must be maintained. While this distance was already stipulated, it is now reinforced by the mandatory full lane change. These provisions apply to both individual cyclists and groups. Non-compliance could result in fines ranging from 200 to 500 euros, depending on the severity of the infraction. Traffic officers will have specific criteria to assess adherence to these safety distances, particularly on routes frequently used by cyclists at weekends.<\/p>\n
Safety Distance for Stationary Vehicles<\/p>\n
Another significant change concerns vehicles passing others that are stationary on the carriageway, whether due to a breakdown, an accident, or any other circumstance. In such instances, drivers must maintain a lateral separation of 1.5 metres and reduce their speed by at least 20 kilometres per hour below the existing road limit. This measure addresses the critical need to protect both the occupants of the immobilised vehicle and roadside assistance personnel, who are particularly vulnerable. Recovery vehicles and emergency services will directly benefit from this provision, which brings their protection in line with that afforded to cyclists.<\/p>\n
This rule is especially pertinent on motorways and dual carriageways, where higher speeds significantly increase the risk of rear-end collisions. Road safety experts have welcomed this inclusion, deeming it essential for reducing workplace accidents among roadside assistance professionals. The royal decree also introduces new restrictions for driving on motorways and dual carriageways when adverse weather conditions, specifically snow, impede normal traffic flow. In these situations, overtaking will be prohibited, and all vehicles must use only the right-hand lane.<\/p>\n
The left-hand lane will be reserved exclusively for emergency vehicles and snow ploughs, facilitating rescue and clearing operations. This measure, common in countries with more severe winter climates, aims to prevent traffic gridlock and enable rapid intervention by emergency services. The implementation of this rule will fall under the responsibility of traffic management centres, which can activate it via variable message signs when conditions demand. Drivers failing to comply with this provision will face financial penalties and points on their driving licence.<\/p>\n
Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMVs)<\/p>\n
The reform sets the minimum age for operating personal mobility vehicles (PMVs), a category that includes e-scooters, self-propelled skateboards, and similar devices, at 15 years. Previously, regulations varied significantly between municipalities, leading to legal uncertainty. Additionally, the mandatory use of a helmet is now imposed on all users of these vehicles, irrespective of their age or the type of road they are using. This measure brings the safety requirements for PMVs closer to those for bicycles, albeit with distinct nuances that will be further developed through regulations.<\/p>\n
However, the requirement for mandatory lighting on PMVs and approved helmets for motorcyclists will not come into force until 1st October 2027, providing a two-year adaptation period for manufacturers, distributors, and users. During this transitional phase, current requirements will remain in place while the industry adapts its products to the new technical specifications. Drivers and passengers of motorcycles and mopeds will be required to wear approved gloves on all types of roads. This measure, long advocated by motorcyclist associations, aims to reduce hand and wrist injuries, which are extremely common in the event of a fall.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the use of closed-toe footwear is now compulsory when driving or travelling as a passenger in these types of vehicles. Consequently, sandals, flip-flops, or any other footwear that does not fully cover the foot are prohibited, a rule that also applies on urban roads during the summer months. Penalties for non-compliance will be around 200 euros, though these infractions, being related to personal equipment, will not result in points being deducted from a driving licence.<\/p>\n
Mandatory Seatbelt Use<\/p>\n
A specific provision now mandates that taxi drivers must wear a seatbelt at all times, even when providing services in urban areas. Previously, there was some regulatory ambiguity that allowed these professionals to drive without a seatbelt under certain circumstances. This measure unifies the criteria applicable to all professional drivers and eliminates exceptions that lacked justification from a road safety perspective. Taxi drivers who fail to comply with this obligation will face the same penalties as any other driver, with their professional status offering no mitigation.<\/p>\n
Extended Helmet Requirements for Cyclists<\/p>\n
While the obligation to wear a helmet already existed on certain interurban roads, the reform extends the mandatory use of helmets for cyclists to a greater number of situations. The specific types of roads and circumstances where helmets will be compulsory will be detailed in the regulations, though the general trend is to align urban and interurban requirements. This measure has generated some debate among cycling associations, with some arguing that universal helmet mandates could potentially discourage the use of bicycles as a daily mode of transport. Nevertheless, accident statistics consistently underscore the helmet’s effectiveness in reducing severe and fatal head injuries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved significant amendments to the General Traffic Regulations, impacting overtaking manoeuvres involving…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":48028,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4367,17],"class_list":["post-48027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-spain","tag-did-you-know","tag-spain"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48027"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48027\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}