Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has introduced new rules prohibiting overtaking on motorways and dual carriageways when snow makes driving difficult, with offenders facing a €200 fine. The measure, attributed to Article 32.2 of the General Traffic Regulations, reportedly came into force on 1 October 2026 under Royal Decree 518/2026, dated 24 June. It aims to improve road safety and ensure emergency vehicles and snowploughs can reach affected areas without obstruction.
Under the new rules, drivers must remain in the right-hand lane whenever conditions allow and refrain from overtaking while snow makes traffic difficult. On roads with three or more lanes in each direction, drivers may also use the second lane from the right, while the remaining lanes must be kept clear for emergency services. The restriction does not automatically apply whenever snow falls, but when road conditions are genuinely affected by issues such as ice, compacted snow, reduced visibility or a loss of tyre grip.
For example, if a vehicle is travelling at 60 kilometres per hour in heavy snow and the car behind is moving at 70 kilometres per hour, the faster driver cannot move into the left-hand lane to overtake. Instead, they must remain in the permitted lane and adjust their speed to the conditions. Breaking the restriction can result in a €200 fine, as overtaking on slippery roads increases the risk of losing control or causing a collision.
The reported changes also tighten the rules for overtaking cyclists outside built-up areas. Drivers must travel at least 20 kilometres per hour below the road’s speed limit throughout the manoeuvre. On a road with a 90-kilometre-per-hour limit, for example, motorists must not exceed 70 kilometres per hour when overtaking a cyclist. A minimum lateral distance of 1.5 metres must also be maintained when passing cyclists, pedestrians, animals, mopeds and personal mobility vehicles. Where a road has more than one lane in each direction, drivers must move completely into the adjacent lane to overtake a cyclist.
The changes also introduce further requirements for electric scooters and other personal mobility vehicles. Riders must be at least 15 years old and wear a helmet, while reflective or illuminated equipment is required at night or when visibility is reduced. Scooters must use authorised roads and are prohibited from pavements and high-speed interurban roads. Riders must also follow signs identifying where these vehicles are permitted, with the aim of reducing accidents involving pedestrians and motorised traffic.
Motorcyclists and moped riders and passengers face additional equipment requirements, including approved gloves on interurban roads and closed footwear on all roads. Approved helmets remain compulsory. Cyclists, meanwhile, must wear helmets on interurban roads without exceptions, removing previous exemptions for certain uphill stretches or certified medical reasons. In urban areas, motor vehicles must also maintain a minimum distance of five metres from cyclists travelling ahead in the same lane.
The revised rules also clarify that cyclists may overtake stationary vehicles or those making frequent stops on either the right or the left, depending on which is safer. Together, the measures are intended to improve safety for vulnerable road users, reduce dangerous manoeuvres and help emergency services operate effectively during adverse weather. Drivers should check the official DGT guidance and the published legislation for the precise scope and application of the new requirements.