Learning to drive update

September 2026

A road user who, due to the means of transport they use or the physical characteristics of their age group, faces a higher risk of injury in the event of a traffic accident, or of suffering more severe injuries.

This category includes pedestrians (specifically persons with disabilities, minors, older people and those with reduced mobility), cyclists, drivers of personal mobility vehicles, and drivers and passengers of motorcycles and mopeds.

A part of the street, raised or otherwise demarcated, reserved primarily for pedestrian movement and presence. This definition includes pavements, squares, boulevards, promenades, platforms and other similar areas.

An area specifically designed and adapted to facilitate pedestrian movement. In such zones, pedestrians have right of way at any point along the carriageway. Horizontal and vertical signage is kept to a minimum.

A designated area regulated by the municipal authority in which, in order to maintain sustainable use, measures are introduced to restrict access or circulation for vehicles belonging to non‑resident neighbours, along with other measures that support such sustainable use.

A set of roads adapted by the competent authority to encourage children to travel to school on foot, by public transport or using non‑motorised means of mobility. Specific signs, road markings or information panels may be installed, as well as speed limits and restrictions for motor vehicles.

Exceptions to the above:

• The use of certified or approved wireless devices integrated into the protective helmets of motorcycle and moped riders, exclusively for intercom or navigation purposes, and only when they do not compromise driving safety.
• Situations in which communication takes place without using the hands and without employing helmets, earphones or similar devices.

Pavements are the part of the road reserved for pedestrian movement and presence, and the circulation of any type of vehicle on them is prohibited. In other pedestrian areas, the municipal authority may authorise the coexistence of pedestrians with cyclists and users of personal mobility vehicles, while respecting pedestrian priority.

If no passable pedestrian area exists, pedestrians may walk on the verge or, if this does not exist or is not passable, on the carriageway, exercising extreme caution and without obstructing traffic. Vehicle drivers, in turn, must adjust their behaviour—particularly speed and distance—to avoid endangering pedestrians.

The municipal authority shall regulate the roads and areas where roller skates, skateboards and personal mobility vehicles may circulate, as well as the conditions under which they may do so.

Municipal authorities may establish residential priority zones or areas, which may include regulations on access, circulation or parking restrictions for certain vehicles within the zone, loading and unloading arrangements, systems and requirements for daytime or night‑time urban goods distribution, speed limits, and other measures that promote sustainable use of the area.

When no practicable pedestrian area exists, pedestrians must walk on the left‑hand verge in the direction of their travel, if it exists and is passable, or otherwise on the carriageway. In both cases, they must keep as far away as possible from vehicle traffic.

Exceptionally, pedestrians may walk on the right‑hand side in the direction of their travel when justified by safety reasons.

In all cases, the following must walk on the right‑hand side and obey the instructions of authorised officers and any traffic signs they encounter:

• Those pushing or pulling a cycle, a two‑wheeled moped, a personal mobility vehicle or similar vehicles.
• Any group of pedestrians led by a designated person.
• Pedestrians who, for safety reasons, should not walk on the left.

Pedestrians who must walk on the verge or the carriageway shall do so as close as possible to the outer edge, with caution, without obstructing traffic, and walking one behind the other.

Where a refuge, pedestrian area or other suitable space exists, no pedestrian may remain standing on the carriageway or the verge, not even while waiting for a vehicle. In such cases, they may only step onto the carriageway to board the vehicle, and only when it is already level with them.

Pedestrians who walk on the carriageway or the verge of interurban roads between sunset and sunrise, or in meteorological or environmental conditions that significantly reduce visibility, must use at least one light‑emitting or reflective element, in accordance with personal protective equipment regulations, which is visible from a minimum distance of 150 metres to approaching drivers. They may also carry other suitable light‑emitting elements to improve their visibility to other road users.

Under the same circumstances, groups of pedestrians must additionally carry, on the side closest to the centre of the carriageway, the lights necessary to indicate their position and dimensions. These lights shall be white or yellow to the front and red to the rear, and may, where appropriate, form a single unit.

Pedestrians may not cross squares or roundabouts by walking on the carriageway; they must go around them unless a designated pedestrian crossing is provided.

• On all types of roads: protective helmets approved in accordance with UNECE Regulation R22, properly fastened, and closed footwear covering the entire foot.
• On interurban roads: protective gloves.

In addition, drivers who carry out their professional activity using any of these vehicles must wear a high‑visibility reflective vest, in accordance with personal protective equipment requirements, when travelling on any type of road.

When travelling between sunset and sunrise, or in meteorological or environmental conditions that significantly reduce visibility, the following must use at least one light‑emitting or reflective element, in accordance with personal protective equipment regulations, visible from a minimum distance of 150 metres:

• Bicycle riders, when travelling on interurban roads.
• PMV riders, on all roads.

In addition, under these circumstances bicycles must have their position lights switched on on any type of road. PMVs must always have their lighting switched on.

Riders who use any of the above vehicles in the course of their professional activity must wear a high‑visibility reflective vest, in accordance with personal protective equipment requirements, when travelling on any type of road.

The use of personal mobility vehicles is prohibited:

• On pavements and, unless authorised, in other pedestrian areas.
• On motorways and dual carriageways.
• On through‑routes.
• On interurban roads and in urban tunnels, except on cycleways, cycle lanes, protected cycle lanes, cycle tracks, cycle paths and roads where motor vehicle circulation is prohibited, provided that signage does not indicate otherwise.

In the absence of a specific lane or designated route, bicycles shall circulate on the carriageway. If a cycle lane or specific route exists, its use is preferred, although it may be made compulsory through sign R‑407a.

Cyclists may not ride on pavements (except children under twelve accompanied by an adult walking on foot, when authorised by the municipal authority), but they may circulate in other pedestrian areas, subject to any limitations or restrictions established by the municipal authority, and always respecting pedestrian priority and safety in such areas.

Bicycles and PMVs shall preferably circulate in the centre of the lane, insofar as their safety and that of other users allows. On roads with at least two lanes in each direction, they shall use the right‑hand lane. They may use other lanes when changing direction or when required for safety reasons.

Drivers of motor vehicles must maintain a minimum separation of five metres from bicycles and PMVs travelling ahead of them in the same lane, and when overtaking must take special care not to endanger them.

Bicycles and PMVs may overtake other vehicles on either the right or the left, depending on what is safest. At signal‑controlled junctions and in traffic queues, they may pass vehicles that are stopped or subject to frequent stops, in order to make correct use of advanced stop line markings.

On urban roads with a single lane and a speed limit of 30 km/h or lower, and subject to appropriate signage, the municipal authority may permit bicycles and PMVs to circulate in both directions. When vehicles encounter this situation, they must move to the right to allow safe passage; if this is not possible, priority shall be given to vehicles travelling in the established direction of the road.

However, passengers in assistance ambulances, equipped to provide technical and medical care en route, are exempt from using seat belts on all types of roads when, during an emergency service, they occupy the patient compartment in order to provide medical assistance while the vehicle is moving.

Furthermore, when taxis operate in urban traffic or urban areas of large cities, they may transport persons under 135 centimetres in height without using an approved restraint device adapted to their size and weight, provided that they occupy a rear seat.

• Motorcycles.
• Passenger cars and adaptable mixed‑use vehicles. Any of these vehicles may use an HOV lane even if only the driver is present, provided the vehicle displays a disability badge or a parking permit for motor vehicles used by persons with reduced mobility.
• Buses with a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3,500 kg and articulated buses, regardless of the number of occupants, under the same circulation conditions established for HOVs, and simultaneously if authorised by the traffic‑regulating authority.
• Police vehicles, fire‑fighting vehicles, civil protection and rescue vehicles, and emergency medical service vehicles.
• Vehicles belonging to maintenance teams for road installations and infrastructure.

As a general rule, all other vehicles and vehicle combinations are prohibited from using HOV lanes, including passenger cars with trailers, as well as pedestrians, cycles, mopeds, personal mobility vehicles, animal‑drawn vehicles and animals.

However, occupants or workers of emergency service vehicles, road maintenance and conservation vehicles, roadside assistance vehicles and special vehicles may walk on motorways and dual carriageways when it is strictly essential for the provision of the corresponding service, and provided they take appropriate measures to avoid compromising their own safety or that of other road users.

Pedestrians may not request passage (hitchhiking) on any section of motorways or dual carriageways, including toll‑station forecourts.

On motorways and dual carriageways, when traffic is slowed to walking pace or vehicles come to a stop due to congestion, drivers must move aside to leave a clear space for the passage of approaching priority vehicles. This clear space is known as the emergency corridor.

On motorways and dual carriageways with two lanes in the same direction, the emergency corridor must be formed in the centre of the road, between the two lanes.

On motorways and dual carriageways with three or more lanes in the same direction, the emergency corridor must be formed between the leftmost lane and the lane immediately to its right. Vehicles in the leftmost lane must move as far left as possible, and vehicles in the remaining lanes must move as far right as possible.

On motorways and dual carriageways, when traffic is hindered by snowy road conditions, overtaking is prohibited and vehicles must travel in the rightmost lane, using the adjacent lane only on sections with three or more lanes per direction, leaving the remaining lanes on the left free of obstacles for emergency vehicles and snowploughs.

Vehicles required to circulate on the verge are prohibited from travelling in parallel.

However, bicycles may travel two abreast on the verge. If the verge does not exist or is not passable or sufficient, they may travel two abreast on the essential part of the carriageway, although they must ride in single file on sections with poor visibility, when they affect traffic flow, or when travelling between sunset and sunrise or in meteorological or environmental conditions that significantly reduce visibility.

This type of use is only allowed when traffic in the main lanes is completely stopped due to congestion.

Speed is limited to 30 km/h, and motorcycles may only travel in single file, exercising extreme caution.

Motorcycle riders must ensure they do not endanger drivers of vehicles required to circulate on the verge, and must leave the verge if necessary.

Police vehicles, fire‑fighting vehicles, civil protection and rescue vehicles, emergency medical service vehicles, as well as maintenance teams for road installations and infrastructure and roadside assistance vehicles, may use the verge to access an emergency service or when necessary for infrastructure maintenance, provided that:

• They use the corresponding V‑1, V‑2, V‑23 and V‑24 signals, as required by specific regulations.
• • They do not exceed 30 km/h, except for priority vehicles in emergency service.

They must also reduce their speed by at least 20 km/h below the posted limit on that road.

Furthermore, if any of the above overtaking manoeuvres take place outside built‑up areas, the overtaking driver must reduce their speed by at least 20 km/h below the posted limit on the road, both before initiating the manoeuvre and throughout its execution, in order to ensure that the stability and safety of the overtaken users are not compromised.

Additionally, the rider of a two‑wheeled vehicle who intends to overtake another vehicle outside built‑up areas must do so in such a way that a space of no less than 1.5 metres is maintained between them and the overtaken vehicle.

Overtaking is prohibited at marked pedestrian crossings, at junctions with cycle lanes, and at level crossings, as well as in their vicinity.

• pedestrians,
• bicycles and other cycles,
• mopeds,
• personal mobility vehicles,
• animals and animal‑drawn vehicles, and
• special agricultural vehicles and their combinations,

when, due to the speed at which they are travelling, they can be overtaken without risk to them or to general traffic, even if this requires occupying the part of the carriageway reserved for the opposite direction.

• Motorcycles.
• Passenger cars.
• Buses.
• Motor vehicles used for the transport of goods.
• Mixed‑use vehicles.
• Non‑special vehicle combinations.
• Escort and protection pilot vehicles (including auxiliary personnel).

• Without extending any elements that exceed the vehicle’s perimeter, understood as its footprint on the ground.
• Resting only on tyres, with the possibility of using chocks or safety wedges.
• Without discharging any fluids from the living compartment.

• At properly marked pedestrian crossings, on pavements and in other pedestrian areas.
• When a vehicle is about to turn into another road and pedestrians are crossing it, even if no pedestrian crossing exists.
• When a vehicle crosses a verge on which pedestrians are walking and no pedestrian area is available.
• When pedestrians are boarding or have alighted from a public transport vehicle at a designated stop and are between that vehicle and the nearest pedestrian area or refuge.
• When military units on foot, school groups or organised processions are passing.

Pedestrians, upon noticing the visual or acoustic signals of priority vehicles, must clear the carriageway and remain in refuges or pedestrian areas, if available, or otherwise move away from the vehicle circulation zone.

Bicycles and other cycles which, by design, cannot carry more than one person may transport children up to 22 kg who are able to sit unaided, provided they use additional seats that meet the established technical specifications.

In all cases, the transport of people or loads must be carried out in such a way that they cannot drag, fall wholly or partially, move dangerously, compromise the stability of the vehicle, or obscure lighting or optical signalling devices.

Trailers, semi‑trailers or other elements meeting the established technical specifications may be used to transport people, animals up to 15 kg, or loads:

• On urban roads, subject to any restrictions imposed by the municipal authority.
• On interurban roads, provided it is daytime and visibility is not reduced.

June 2026