Overview
- The Dirección General de Tráfico’s Real Decreto 518/2026 took effect on October 1, 2026 and makes pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and VMP users the priority in the traffic code.
- Key rules now enforce cyclist protection and safer overtaking by requiring cyclists to ride in the centre of urban lanes, a 5‑metre frontal gap in the same lane, and on interurban roads a 20 km/h speed reduction plus a 1.5‑metre lateral gap or a full lane change to pass.
- New equipment and age rules cover VMPs and motorcycles by setting a 15‑year minimum age for VMPs, mandatory helmets and reflectors, permanent lighting on VMPs with some requirements phased to 2027, and compulsory closed footwear and interurban gloves for motorcyclists.
- Many provisions are enforceable now with fines (commonly €200) and point penalties, but changes to traffic‑light sequences that stop amber flashing coinciding with pedestrian green are being managed locally with no fixed national deadline and possible municipal exceptions based on technical reports.
- The reform responds to years of safety data showing high urban pedestrian fatalities and could reduce conflicts at crossings, though cities warn that reprogramming thousands of intersections may lengthen cycles and raise congestion, so DGT will issue guidance and secondary orders to phase technical measures.