Spain revamps traffic rules to protect vulnerable road users

The Spanish Council of Ministers approved an amendment to the Reglamento General de Circulación aimed at improving safety for vulnerable road users. The reform is organized into six blocks. It sets a minimum age of 15 for operating personal mobility vehicles such as electric scooters and makes helmets and reflective vests mandatory for their users; professional riders must wear a reflective vest at all times. Motorcyclists and riders of mopeds must now wear certified protective gloves and closed shoes on all roads, with non‑compliant riding punishable by a €200 fine. Helmets for motorcyclists must be homologated, a requirement that takes effect on 1 October 2027. Lights must remain on at all times for personal mobility vehicles. Cyclists lose any exemption from helmet use on inter‑urban roads and professional bicycle riders must also wear helmets and reflective vests. When overtaking a cyclist, drivers must reduce speed by at least 20 km/h below the limit and change lanes completely on multi‑lane roads, keeping a 1.5 m lateral gap; in urban settings a minimum 5 m distance behind a cyclist is required. Motorcycles may use the right‑hand shoulder lane in congested traffic at no more than 30 km/h, provided the section is sign‑posted. All new measures become enforceable on 1 October 2026, with the lighting and homologated‑helmet requirements deferred to 1 October 2027. Violations are classified as serious offences and fined €200.