Spain launches major traffic law overhaul on Oct. 1, 2026

The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has amended Annex VII of the General Vehicle Regulations, setting a legal tread depth of 1 mm for trucks, buses and heavy trailers and raising fines up to €500 with a loss of six licence points for the most serious violations. The change, published in the BOE on 30 May 2026, also obliges heavy vehicles over 3 500 kg to use extreme‑winter tyres.

A wider reform of the General Traffic Regulations, effective 1 October 2026, introduces stricter protection for vulnerable road users. When overtaking cyclists, pedestrians, mopeds or personal‑mobility vehicles on inter‑urban roads, drivers must reduce speed by at least 20 km/h relative to the posted limit and keep a minimum lateral distance of 1.5 m, with a full lane change required on multi‑lane roads. In urban settings, a five‑metre distance from a bicycle in the same lane is mandated. The new rules also ban users younger than 15 from electric scooters and require helmets for such vehicles.