Spain decentralizes speed radar control and tightens cyclist rules

The Catalan government approved a comprehensive Road Safety Plan for 2024‑2026 that includes up to 675 new measures and an investment of more than €323 million. A key element is the first‑ever permission for municipalities to install and manage speed‑radar units on inter‑urban roads (travesías), shifting enforcement from the national traffic authority to local councils.

At the national level, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) amended the General Traffic Regulations, effective 1 October 2026. The changes require cyclists to ride in the centre of the lane, mandate a minimum five‑metre separation between moving vehicles and cyclists, and allow municipalities to permit two‑way cycling on single‑lane streets with speed limits of 30 km/h or less. The reforms aim to increase cyclist visibility, reduce dangerous overtaking, and improve overall road safety.