**Spanish Road Reform Brings New Protections for Vulnerable Users**
The Spanish government has introduced significant changes to the General Road Traffic Regulation (RGC) through Royal Decree 518/2026, aimed at strengthening protections for vulnerable road users. The new rules, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on June 26, 2026, and taking effect on October 1, 2026, apply to drivers of cars, motorcycles, bicycles, personal mobility vehicles, and buses alike.
Spanish Road Reform Brings New Protections for Vulnerable Users
One of the decree's key innovations is the legal definition of "vulnerable users." This category explicitly includes pedestrians (including people with disabilities, seniors, minors, and those with reduced mobility), cyclists, drivers of personal mobility vehicles, and motorcyclists and moped riders. To enhance safety, the regulations set stricter limits on overtaking vulnerable users outside urban areas.
When a driver intends to overtake a pedestrian, cyclist, personal mobility vehicle user, moped or motorcycle rider, or even an animal, they must reduce their speed by at least 20 km/h compared to the road's speed limit before initiating the maneuver and maintain that reduced speed throughout. Additionally, a minimum lateral separation of 1.5 meters is still mandatory.
In multi-lane roads, the reform requires a complete lane change to overtake vulnerable users. Group cycling is considered a single mobile unit, so the overtaking maneuver must be completed in its entirety before returning to the original lane. This means a cyclist can only be overtaken at a maximum of 70 km/h (or the same as other vulnerable users) in a 90 km/h limited road.
The decree also toughens conditions for passing vehicles that are stationary on the road. In such cases, a minimum safety distance of 1.5 meters and a speed reduction of at least 20 km/h compared to the road's speed limit are now mandatory.
Emergency Lane and Motorcycles on the Shoulder
Another notable aspect is the explicit regulation of the so-called "emergency lane" on highways and dual carriageways during congestion. While this practice was already common among many drivers, it lacked specific regulation. The new rule states that in roads with two lanes per direction, the emergency lane should form between the two lanes, while in roads with three or more lanes per direction, it will be created between the leftmost lane and the adjacent one.
The reform also incorporates a specific rule for snowy conditions, prohibiting overtaking and requiring drivers to maintain a safe distance and slow down. These changes aim to adapt road regulations to new mobility forms and better protect the most vulnerable road users in Spain.