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Spain also wants to do something to improve the climate and increase road safety. As part of this, they have introduced some new traffic rules to help them get closer to this goal.

Originally, you always had to carry three important documents when driving in Spain. These were the driving licence, the vehicle registration document and the document issued by the Technical Inspection Association. The obligation to carry the insurance policy or a printout of the last payment to the insurance company has been abolished. If these documents are missing, a fine of 10 euros can be imposed - this also applies to tourists in rented cars.

Anyone travelling abroad must now carry a green card. This is an international insurance card. All of the above can now be accessed via a 'miDGT' app and will have the same validity as the physical documents. Additional information will also be available through the app. For example, the number of points on the driver's licence, an appointment with the traffic police or access to the vehicle documents.

In Spain, the familiar warning triangle is also being replaced by a V16 emergency light. This is a flashing orange 360-degree light that is usually mounted on the roof of the vehicle to ensure the best possible visibility for other road users. Another safety aspect is that it is not necessary to leave the vehicle to set up the warning triangle 100 metres away.

The light can be installed from inside the vehicle. As well as providing a warning signal, the light also transmits the vehicle's location to the Digital Platform 3.0 of the Spanish Highway Authority (DGT), making it easier to locate the vehicle involved in the accident. There is currently a soft regulation for this in Spain. From 1 January 2026, the light approved by the DGT must be carried in the glove compartment of every vehicle.
In addition, Spain is now planning to allow young people from the age of 16 to drive certain vehicles. In order to drive a four- or three-wheeled vehicle weighing up to 400 kg, with a maximum power of 15 kW and a maximum speed of 90 km/h, a theoretical and practical test must be passed.

After Germany, Spain is now also planning to introduce environmental zones. Every city with more than 50,000 inhabitants and every municipality with more than 20,000 inhabitants will be classified as a low emission zone. However, each city will decide for itself which criteria to apply. There are blue stickers for plug-in hybrids. There is a blue and green sticker for ECO vehicles. Then there are green and yellow stickers. The latter will probably be the rule. They are for petrol and diesel cars. However, it is important to check the registration date. You can check this on the website of the automobile club Race.

Something that Germany has addressed recently, but not enforced, is driving restrictions for the elderly. In Spain, people over the age of 65 must renew their driving licence every five years. From the age of 70, this interval is reduced to two years. To renew the licence, a psychophysical certificate must be obtained. This involves anticipation and coordination tests, hearing and vision tests and a gener al medical examination. The costs are to be paid privately, but are affordable.

Last but not least, it is expected that the so-called 'ITV' stickers will soon no longer be used in Spain. Until now, these stickers have been used to quickly identify a vehicle that has successfully passed its technical inspection at the Technical Inspection Agency. In this way, it was always possible to see immediately whether the vehicle was roadworthy at the time of the traffic control. It is not yet clear how the new concept will be organised. However, it is clear that it will be electronic and that mobile phone checks are being considered in order to better check the actual condition of the vehicle. This should make it easier to record data and check that the vehicle meets all the requirements.

 

Source: Pixabay/travel-5188598_1280