The package was approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers. According to the authorities, the aim is to improve protection for the most vulnerable road users and to align the rules with changes in travel patterns over the past two decades. Most measures are due to apply from 1 October 2026.
What changes on interurban roads
For the road transport sector, one of the key updates concerns how drivers must pass vehicles that have stopped due to a crash, a breakdown, emergency response activity, maintenance work or traffic management.
Under the new rules, drivers will be required to leave at least 1.5 metres of space when passing a stopped vehicle and reduce speed by at least 20 kilometres per hour below the posted limit.
There are also new instructions for motorways and expressways during intense snowfall. When conditions significantly disrupt traffic, overtaking will be prohibited and all vehicles will have to stay in the right-hand lane. The left lane will be kept clear for emergency services and snowploughs.
The revision also introduces a legal obligation to create a rescue lane. In congestion where traffic slows to walking pace or comes to a standstill, drivers must leave an open corridor in the middle of the carriageway so police and other emergency services can pass.
Updates for city traffic
The package also covers urban driving. At signal-controlled pedestrian crossings, a flashing amber light for vehicles should generally not be displayed at the same time as a green light for pedestrians.
For the first time, the rules also define the concept of a “vulnerable road user” and introduce provisions for so-called safe routes to school. These are designated corridors identified by the relevant authorities to make it easier for children to reach schools on foot, by public transport or using non-motorised means of travel.
Clearer parking rules for motorhomes
The amendment further clarifies what is and is not allowed when motorhomes are parked. While stationary, vehicles will not be allowed to deploy any elements that extend beyond the vehicle’s outline, they must rest only on their tyres, and they may not discharge fluids from the living area to the outside.
When the new rules take effect
Most provisions are scheduled to come into force on 1 October 2026. An exception applies to requirements on mandatory lighting for personal mobility vehicles and the obligation for motorcyclists to use approved helmets. Those measures are due to apply from 1 October 2027.
