From 1 October 2026 stricter rules for overtaking cyclists will come into force in Spain The minimum lateral distance of 1.5 metres will remain in force. The new rule is that on roads with multiple lanes in the same direction, drivers should, if it is safe to do so, move into an adjacent lane move fully across when overtaking and adjust their speed more closely to the situation before and during the manoeuvre. The legal basis is the Real Decreto 518/2026, which amends the Reglamento General de Circulación and was published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado .
The Dirección General de Tráfico explained the forthcoming changes on 24 September 2026 and clarified that the requirement to keep a safe lateral distance is not being removed. Rather, the existing rule is being supplemented: where a full lane change is possible, it should ensure the safety distance; where it is not possible, the minimum distance of 1.5 metres still applies. The reform therefore combines distance, lane choice and adjusted speed to reduce risks to vulnerable road users.
The authority stresses that the new requirements are part of a package to protect cyclists and other unprotected road users. How violations are classified and fines applied will increasingly depend on whether drivers observe the combined requirements for sufficient distance, adjusted speed and, where available, a lane change. The Dirección General de Tráfico presented details on how the rules will be applied to local councils and associations at an information session.
Cycling organisations welcome the clarifications as a step towards greater legal certainty. At the same time, they are calling for a wide-ranging awareness campaign to ensure the measures are understood and put into practice in everyday life. For drivers, the amendment means that dangerous close overtaking is even more clearly prohibited and, on sections with multiple lanes, moving into a free adjacent lane becomes the standard rule, provided this can be done without creating a hazard.
Real Decreto 518/2026 was published on 24 June 2026 and provides for individual provisions to come into force in stages. The key overtaking rules affecting cyclists apply from 1 October 2026. There is no proposal to remove the minimum distance; it remains the baseline safety standard, supplemented by more extensive measures.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).