New DGT traffic regulations come into force on Thursday, September 30

THE DGT introduced some new traffic regulations on Thursday, September 30

This Thursday, September 30, a new set of traffic regulations and amendments came into force from the Direccion General de Trafico (DGT).

The new regulation is called the Traffic, Circulation, and Road Safety Law, and carries some very strict penalties for drivers, so please be aware. The term ‘drivers’ applies to motorcycles as well.

One of the biggest new measures is a reform of an existing law, which states that from now on, any driver caught with a mobile phone in their hand – whether it is active or not – will be punished with the loss of six points from their driving licence. At the moment, the penalty for this is only three points, so it is now doubled.

The proposed change in regards to how drivers must overtake another vehicle did not receive the required support to pass. As a result, drivers are still allowed to exceed the generic speed limit by 20kph when overtaking.

If the change had gone through, any vehicle found to be exceeding the road’s displayed speed limit while overtaking another vehicle would have been liable to a fine. However, opponents argued this would have raised the issue of how drivers could be expected to overtake safely.

Especially in the scenario where another vehicle is coming in the other direction and the overtaking vehicle might spend too long in the oncoming lane trying to maintain the legal speed limit.

The Spanish political parties of Ciudadanos, PNV, ERC, Plural, and Vox, all presented amendments to maintain the rule of exceeding 20kph when overtaking.

Not using, or incorrectly wearing the seatbelt now carries a loss of four points, up from three points, and the same when not using child restraints, helmets, or other protective elements.

Drivers of personal mobility vehicles, such as electric scooters, will be obliged to use a protective helmet in the terms that are determined by regulation, a measure that was included in the text through an amendment, as reported by malagahoy.es.

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