Spain reduces speed limits in built-up areas and bans radar detectors

In order to increase road safety in cities, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior has decided to lower the speed limits in the following places:

• on one-way roads, with the pavement at road level, the limit will be 20 km/h instead of the current 50 km/h,
• on roads with one lane in each direction the maximum speed will be 30 km/h,
• on roads with two or more lanes in one direction the limit will remain at 50 km/h.

📢El Consejo de Ministros también ha aprobado la reducción de los límites de velocidad en ciudad

“Rebajar la velocidad de 50 a 30 km/h disminuye 5 veces el riesgo de fallecer como consecuencia de un atropello, y no impide la fluidez de la circulación”#MásSeguridad pic.twitter.com/OP8HjFFGke

— Ministerio del Interior (@interiorgob) November 10, 2020

This new speed limiting measure is designed mainly to reduce accidents, given the serious increase in their number. It also serves to deepen the change of urban mobility patterns and reduce the attractiveness of car use,” explains Fernando Grande Marlaska, Spanish Minister of the Interior, quoted by the daily newspaper El País.

The amendments have also changed the severity of fines. Driving too fast in 30 km/h zones will be punished as follows:

• €100 fine for speeds between 31 and 50 km/h,
• €300 fine for speeds between 51 and 60 km/h,
• €400 fine and 4 penalty points for driving at speeds between 61 and 70 km/h,
• €500 fine and 6 penalty points for driving at speeds between 71 and 80 km/h,
• €600 fine and 6 penalty points for driving at speeds 81 km/h and more.

Changes to the speed limits and the associated fines are only part of the measures provided for by the Ministry of the Interior.

The number of penalty points for some offences will also be increased. For example, for using a mobile phone, the driver will receive not 3 but 6 penalty points, and for driving without a seat belt, 4 penalty points instead of 3.

In addition, the government decided to fill a gap in the law, which has so far made it difficult to combat radar detectors.

At present, only the use of radar detectors and devices or applications with a speed control warning function is punished, and not the possession thereof. In practice, it was almost impossible to catch the driver in the act of committing an offence because the people who were stopped for control quickly switched off the equipment.  Once the new rules enter into force, the possession of such devices will also be sanctioned with a fine of €500 and 3 penalty points.

The changes are due to enter into force on 2 January 2021, but as regards speed limits, the government is giving road managers six months from the moment the law is published to adjust the signs in the cities, i.e. by 12 May 2021.