Spain is overhauling its road-safety regulations. At night, electric-scooter users will have to wear helmets and reflective vests and keep their lights on. The Council of Ministers approved the rules, which take effect in October 2026, though some provisions are phased in later, including measures scheduled for 2027. Their stated aim is to protect “vulnerable road users”: pedestrians and cyclists, as well as motorcyclists and users of personal mobility vehicles such as scooters.
Scooter riders must be at least 15 years old. At night or in poor visibility, including during rain, fog or sandstorms, they must wear a helmet and reflective vest and keep their lights on. These requirements apply at all times to people using scooters professionally. Violations carry a €200 fine. Outside urban areas, scooters may use segregated routes such as cycle paths, but not basic roads.
Cyclists will also face stricter requirements. Helmets and reflective vests will be compulsory on interurban roads and for professional riders; violations carry a €200 fine. In cities, cyclists may ride in the centre of the lane to improve their visibility and safety. Drivers of motor vehicles must leave at least five metres behind them. When overtaking cyclists on single-lane roads, motorists must use the opposite lane, leave at least 1.5 metres of lateral clearance and travel at least 20 km/h below the speed limit.
Motorcyclists and passengers must wear protective gloves and closed footwear at all times. Violations carry a €200 fine. Moped helmets must be officially approved, not merely certified. Delivery and courier riders must wear reflective vests at all times. During traffic jams, motorcycles may use the right shoulder where it is properly marked, provided they stay below 30 km/h.
Professional drivers, including taxi and freight drivers, as well as driving-school instructors, must wear seat belts at all times, except during emergency medical transport. On interurban roads, drivers passing stationary vehicles involved in accidents or breakdowns, or stopped for maintenance, must leave at least 1.5 metres of clearance and travel at least 20 km/h below the posted speed limit. Pedestrians walking on interurban roads at night or in low visibility must wear reflective elements, particularly on highways and motorways.
The package also bans overtaking during snowfall on highways and motorways. Vehicles must keep the left lane clear for emergency services and snowplows. In traffic jams, stopped vehicles and those moving at walking pace must leave a basic corridor for police and rescue vehicles. Urban traffic lights will be adjusted so that amber flashing signals for vehicles do not coincide with green lights for pedestrians. The rules also define “safe school routes” as designated ways for children to travel to school on foot, by public transport or by non-motorized means.
Motorhomes face new parking restrictions. Awnings and other elements must not extend beyond the vehicle’s perimeter, the vehicle must rest on its tires, and fluids may not be discharged onto the ground. The requirements are being phased in. Scooter lighting rules and the requirement for officially approved moped helmets are scheduled to take effect in October 2027. The rule on homologated protective gloves will apply once technical standards are set by ministerial order; until then, current gloves remain acceptable.
The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) runs a dedicated helpline for road-accident victims at 018, offering information and support in more than 50 languages daily from 8:00 to 21:00. People can also get in touch through WhatsApp* (принадлежит Metа, которая признана экстремистской организацией и запрещена в РФ) or email. The regulatory changes put greater emphasis on the safety of all road users, particularly in urban areas, as personal mobility vehicles become a more visible part of Spain’s transport mix.
