A new law that was passed in Spain now requires motorists to reduce their speed by 20/kph when passing a cyclist(s), along with a series of other measures that are designed to protect riders.
In addition to lowering their speed when passing, the law requires drivers to maintain a safe distance of at least 1.5 meters of space when passing, while in urban areas, drivers will be required to keep a safe distance of at least 5 meters, with a fine of 200 euros and up to six penalty points for those in violation.
The other changes in the law mandate that cyclists are required to wear reflective or luminous accessories in low-visibility conditions that enable them to be seen from at least 150 meters away, while the use of helmets is also mandatory for all cyclists.
Additionally, cyclists will now be allowed to filter and overtake on either side of vehicles in urban areas, as well as ride against the direction of traffic on single-lane one-way streets if the speed limit is 30km/h or less.
Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic hopes these new measures will improve road safety and better protect cyclists, especially after registering 90 deaths in 2023 due to traffic accidents, an increase over the previous year.
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