started · updated
Spain to implement new traffic regulations on October 1
Spain will implement significant reforms to its General Traffic Regulations starting October 1, 2026, under Royal Decree 518/2026. The new rules aim to increase safety for vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and users of personal mobility vehicles (VMP).
Key changes for VMP users include a minimum age requirement of 15 years, mandatory helmet use, and the requirement to wear reflective vests at night or in low visibility. Cyclists will also face new rules, such as mandatory helmet use on interurban roads and stricter passing requirements for motorists, who must maintain a 1.5-meter lateral distance and reduce speed by at least 20 km/h when overtaking.
For motorists, new protocols for traffic jams require the creation of an emergency lane. On highways with two lanes, this space must be formed in the center; on highways with three or more lanes, it must be formed between the leftmost lane and the adjacent lane. Additionally, motorcyclists will be permitted to use the right shoulder at a maximum speed of 30 km/h in specifically authorized and signaled sections during traffic congestion.
Traffic light regulations will also change to prevent confusion at pedestrian crossings. The new law prohibits the simultaneous use of flashing amber lights for vehicles and solid green lights for pedestrians, requiring a solid red light for vehicles to precede the pedestrian green signal.
Entities
DGT · Dirección General de Tráfico · Real Decreto 518/2026 · Spain · Spanish Government
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Drivers must create an emergency lane during traffic jams or when moving at pedestrian speeds. www.leonoticias.com · www.salamancahoy.es · www.abc.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] New traffic regulations will take effect on October 1, 2026. www.leonoticias.com · www.salamancahoy.es · www.abc.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] On highways with two lanes in the same direction, the emergency lane must be formed in the center between the two lanes. www.leonoticias.com · www.salamancahoy.es · www.abc.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Spanish Government approved Royal Decree 518/2026 to protect vulnerable road users. www.leonoticias.com · www.salamancahoy.es · www.abc.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] On highways with three or more lanes in the same direction, the emergency lane must be formed between the leftmost lane and the lane adjacent to it. www.leonoticias.com · www.salamancahoy.es · www.abc.es