Spain rolls out comprehensive 2026 traffic safety reforms

The Spanish Council of Ministers approved a sweeping update to the General Traffic Regulations, set to take effect on 1 October 2026. The changes raise the maximum speed on conventional roads outside built‑up areas to 80 km/h, prohibit radar‑detector devices and the use of audio headsets while driving, and lift previous exemptions on seat‑belt use for taxi drivers, delivery couriers and driving‑school instructors.

New protective requirements target vulnerable road users: cyclists must wear helmets on inter‑urban routes and, for professional riders, helmets and reflective vests become compulsory in all conditions. Motorcyclists are required to wear approved protective gloves and closed footwear, with a 200‑euro fine for non‑compliance. The decree also permits motorcycles to use the right‑hand shoulder lane during traffic jams, but the Catalan traffic authority has refused to authorise this in the region for safety reasons.

Violations of the new rules generally attract a fine of €200, and certain offences (e.g., unsafe overtaking of cyclists) carry a six‑point penalty. The reforms aim to reduce injuries and deaths among vulnerable users, who accounted for a disproportionate share of road fatalities in recent years.