Motorists planning to get behind the wheel while traveling in Spain have been urged to be aware of a number of new rules to avoid risking hefty fines.

The prospect of a trip to sunny Spain seems particularly pleasant with the cold weather and snow experienced in various parts of the country during the week.

However, new rules recently announced by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) for use on motorways and expressways from January 2025 could result in penalties for misinformed residents and visitors.

First, the DGT stressed that it would crack down on cases of monopolization of intermediate and express lanes, particularly when traveling in adverse weather conditions.

Drivers were asked to stay to the right, with passing prohibited in bad weather, to free up space for snow plows, which typically travel in the left-most lane.

Similarly, drivers taking to Spain’s roads from January 2025 will need to learn the emergency lane rule which could help emergency vehicles quickly pass through dense traffic jams.

If motorists stuck in heavy traffic on two-lane roads hear an emergency response vehicle approaching, they should move to the side of the lane to create as wide an overtake as possible to allow the vehicle to pass.

A number of other continental European countries, including Germany, Hungary and Switzerland, are already using the emergency corridor procedure. It is recommended that drivers in the UK learn it to help those responding to incidents.

Finally, the DGT also noted that motorcyclists using expressways and motorways will soon be able to use the emergency lane in the event of heavy traffic.

An unconventional move, the organization stressed that allowing motorcyclists to use the lane at a speed limit of 30 km/h (18 mph) would help reduce traffic jams.

However, motorcyclists will always have to give way to vehicles using the emergency lane in the event of a breakdown or to road users already authorized to use the lane, such as pedal bicycles, animal-drawn vehicles and mopeds.

Although these changes are somewhat drastic, the DGT has modified the rules on dual carriageways and highways to improve road safety, especially when traveling in bad weather.

The Spanish organization also hopes that these measures will reduce traffic jams, which could increase the amount of emissions produced.

It is currently unclear how much drivers who break the new rules will be penalized. However, traffic penalties in Spain are generally about the same as in the UK.