New traffic rules from 1 October: lights, cyclists and seatbelts
On 1 October 2026 new traffic rules take effect across Spain, and therefore in the Canaries too. They reform the Reglamento General de Circulación (RGC), Spain's road-traffic regulation, and are aimed above all at better protecting vulnerable users such as pedestrians and cyclists. This is reported by the newspaper Canarias7 on 19 August 2026, citing the traffic authority DGT.
Photo: Stephen Craven, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Symbolbild).
For residents as well as visitors who drive a hire car or cycle while on the islands, several concrete things change: at traffic lights, in how drivers deal with cyclists, and in the seatbelt duty for professional drivers. Other changes have been explicitly postponed by a year.
What changes at traffic lights
The most eye-catching change concerns traffic lights at pedestrian crossings. Under the reform, according to Canarias7, a flashing amber signal for vehicles may no longer show at the same time as a green signal for pedestrians at a crossing.
Until now, a simultaneous flashing amber meant vehicles could proceed while pedestrians already had a green light – a set-up that could cause confusion. According to the DGT, separating the two is meant to avoid misunderstanding and clearly reinforce pedestrian priority.
New rules for cyclists
For cyclists the reform creates more protective space. They may, according to Canarias7, ride preferentially in the centre of the lane. Motor vehicles following a cyclist in the same lane must keep a minimum gap of 5 metres.
In addition, on single-lane one-way streets limited to 30 km/h, municipalities may allow cycling in both directions – provided this is properly signposted. That gives towns more room to link cycle routes sensibly together.
Seatbelts now compulsory for professional drivers too
Until now, certain professional drivers – for example in taxi, delivery and driving-school work – were allowed to skip the seatbelt in urban areas. That exemption is removed, according to Canarias7. Those affected must now wear the belt at all times.
Exceptions apply only in tightly defined cases: for documented medical reasons and during specific manoeuvres such as reversing or parking. The rule applies across Spain and therefore to professional drivers in the Canaries as well.
What only arrives in 2027
Two planned requirements have been explicitly postponed by a year and take effect only on 1 October 2027. One is the lighting requirement for personal mobility vehicles, known in Spanish as VMP – a category that includes e-scooters.
The other is the duty to wear a homologated helmet for moped riders. Both requirements were originally due earlier but now, according to Canarias7, apply a year later, to give those affected more time to adapt.
What it means for residents and visitors in the Canaries
Because the RGC applies nationwide, the reform affects the Canaries in full. Anyone driving a hire car here should expect clearer pedestrian priority at crossings and should consistently keep 5 metres behind cyclists when following them in the same lane.
For cyclists, riding in the centre of the lane means greater visibility. The reform's stated aim, according to the DGT, is to adapt the rules to urban mobility and strengthen the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. The source names no specific fines or officials.
Cyclists may now deliberately ride in the centre of the lane; where municipalities open 30 km/h one-way streets to both directions, this applies only with the proper signage in place.
Key facts
- Entry into force: 1 October 2026, reform of the Reglamento General de Circulación (per Canarias7 / DGT)
- Traffic lights: no simultaneous flashing amber for vehicles and green for pedestrians at a crossing
- Cyclists: preferentially the centre of the lane; motor vehicles at least 5 metres behind in the same lane
- One-way streets at 30 km/h: municipalities may allow two-way cycling (with signage)
- Seatbelts: professional drivers must wear them at all times; exceptions only medical or during manoeuvres like reversing and parking
- Postponed to 1 October 2027: lighting for VMP (e-scooters) and homologated helmets for moped riders
FAQ
- When do the new traffic rules apply?
- From 1 October 2026 across Spain, and therefore in the Canaries too, according to Canarias7 citing the DGT.
- What changes at traffic lights?
- A flashing amber for vehicles may no longer coincide with a green for pedestrians at a crossing, to strengthen pedestrian priority.
- What rules will apply to cyclists?
- They may ride preferentially in the centre of the lane, motor vehicles must keep 5 metres behind, and on 30 km/h one-way streets municipalities may allow two-way cycling.
- Do taxi and professional drivers now have to buckle up?
- Yes. The previous urban exemption is removed; the belt is compulsory at all times, except for documented medical reasons and manoeuvres such as reversing or parking.
- What has been postponed to 2027?
- The lighting requirement for VMP such as e-scooters and the homologated-helmet duty for moped riders take effect only on 1 October 2027.
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