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On Tuesday, the government approved an amendment to the General Traffic Regulations introducing new obligations (source in Spanish) for users of personal mobility vehicles (PMVs), including e-scooters. For the first time, the reform sets a minimum age of 15 to ride these vehicles and makes helmet use compulsory across the country.
The measure is part of a broader package of changes driven by the Interior Ministry and the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) to improve road safety for so-called “vulnerable users”, a group that includes pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and scooter riders.
In addition to wearing a helmet, scooter riders will have to keep their lights on in poor visibility and at night, when reflective clothing or accessories will also be mandatory. Failure to comply with these rules may result in fines of 200 euros.
The Interior Ministry has stated that the aim of the reform is to bring the General Traffic Regulations into line with developments over the past two decades since they were adopted.
Standardising rules for scooters
Until now, rules on helmet use or the minimum age for riding a scooter largely depended on municipal by-laws, leading to differences between cities. With this reform, the government is seeking to establish a common framework for the whole country.
For years the DGT has been calling for more uniform regulation of these vehicles in response to their growing use in urban areas and concern over the number of accidents.
More changes for cyclists and motorcyclists
The reform also introduces new obligations for other road users. Motorcyclists will have to wear protective gloves and closed footwear, while the rules on overtaking cyclists and stationary vehicles are being tightened, requiring drivers to slow down and maintain a safe lateral distance.
When overtaking cyclists on roads with more than one lane in each direction, drivers will have to move fully into the adjacent lane whenever traffic and safety conditions allow.
New measures are also being introduced for emergency situations, traffic jams and snowfall, including the creation of corridors to allow emergency services to pass through.
Most of the measures will come into force on 1 October 2026. However, the obligation to use lights and reflective elements on e-scooters, as well as the mandatory use of approved gloves for motorcyclists on interurban roads, will not apply until 1 October 2027 to allow time to adapt to the new requirements.