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Using or holding a mobile phone 
Spain’s DGT traffic authority is trying to reduce the number of fatal traffic accidents caused by distractions at the wheel, the reason for road deaths in 31 percent of cases in the country. 

Driving while holding your mobile phone in your hand now results in the loss of six points from your driving licence, three more than previously. 
As for the fine,  it’s still €200 as well as the loss of three points if the driver uses their mobile but doesn’t have it in their hand.

It remains legal to use wireless or other approved devices if they don’t involve the use of hands or helmets or headphones.

Motorcyclists can have such devices on their helmets for communication or navigation purposes, as long as they’re not a safety risk. However, this doesn’t include keeping a mobile phone device lodged between the helmet and your head while driving, an offence which carries the loss of three points.

Littering
Throwing objects on the road such as cigarette butts will carry a penalty of 6 points and a €200 to €500 fine, instead of the previous 4 points.

Not wearing a seatbelt
Not using your seat belt or doing it incorrectly will be punished with a €200 fine and the loss of 4 points; one more than previously.
According to the DGT, one in four deaths in traffic accidents in Spain are people who were not wearing a seatbelt.

Overtaking bicycles and mopeds
It will be mandatory to change lanes when overtaking cyclists or moped users on roads with more than one lane in each direction.
Endangering or hindering cyclists when overtaking or without leaving the mandatory minimum separation of 1.5 metres will now result in the loss of six points from one’s driving licence rather than four. The fine will continue to be €200. 
Stopping or parking your vehicle in a bus lane or a cycle path will now also be considered a serious violation and could result in the same penalty as for not overtaking cyclists properly.
Half of the 1,370 people who died in traffic accidents in Spain in 2020 were pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists. 

Overtaking on secondary roads
It is no longer possible to surpass the speed limit of carreteras convencionales (secondary roads) by up to 20km/h when overtaking other vehicles. 
Carreteras convencionales are high-capacity single-carriageway roads in Spain which are a step down from motorways (with lanes in both directions, with or without separating barriers).
From March 21st 2022, anyone who surpasses the speed limit of a carretera convencional will be penalised and fined according to their excess of speed.
The DGT has reported that in 2019, 239 drivers died in road accidents in Spain as a result of these overtaking manoeuvres. 

Anti-start breathalysers

In addition to approving said legislation, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has warned that this summer a new mandatory rule will come into force that consists of the installation of anti-start breathalyzers in cars. Alcoho-Lock is mandatory for motorcycles and registered road passenger transport vehicles from 6 July 2022. These vehicles are required to have an alcohol ignition interlock

This device called 'Alcolock' is installed in vehicles to connect it to the ignition system and has the ability to analyze the concentrations of alcohol in the air. In the event that the breathalyzer detects that the permitted alcohol limits have been exceeded, the car will not start.

Drivers will have to have this device activated, on the contrary, the vehicle will not start if it is turned off.

To avoid possible fraud, it incorporates driver recognition systems that will be stored in the breathalyzer's memory. Some of these systems are the recognition of fingerprints, pupil or digital photographs.
The DGT has the objective of reducing the number of deaths on the roads, in addition, they estimate that if all vehicles incorporate this device, traffic accidents will be reduced.

No e-scooters on the pavement

For the first time, personal mobility vehicles such as electric scooters, segways and similar devices have a special category in Spain’s traffic laws, which also apply to bicycles.
 
The new rules that come into force on March 21st 2022 include two important changes for users of these devices that are becoming increasingly prevalent across Spain.
 
It is now mandatory for users to wear a helmet and it is expressly forbidden to ride on the pavement, motorways or highways.

Either of these infractions will be punishable with a €200 fine. 
The legal framework for stricter rules for personal mobility vehicles to soon be adopted have also been introduced, namely that by July 2022 new devices will have to include a breathalyser for users to be able to use them. 

DRIVING – some relief on fuel pricing

How drivers in Spain can get 20 euro cents off every litre of fuel

Starting on Friday April 1st 2022, the Spanish government has cut the price of petrol and diesel by 20 euro cents for every litre of fuel. How can drivers in Spain take advantage of this subsidy and how much can they expect to save?

As part of Pedro Sánchez’s plan to lessen the impact of the Ukraine war on the Spanish economy, the government has included “a minimum reduction of 20 cents per litre of fuel” as one of its main measures to reduce spiralling costs for “families and businesses”.

This is available to all people in Spain, not just lorry drivers and other workers in the transport sector who went on strike en masse for two weeks in March over crippling fuel costs. 

The price drop will apply to all types of gasoline, diesel and gas, as well as bioethanol, biodiesel and the special additive AdBlue.
The State will finance 15 cents whilst the oil companies will cover 5 cents, although Sánchez has praised the fact that some multinationals have committed to subsidising an even higher cost. 

All in all, it will cost the Spanish government €1.4 billion to offer these subsidies to the Spanish public, and €473 million for the petrol companies.

Until when will the discount apply?
It starts on Friday April 1st 2022 and will last three months until June 30th.
The Spanish government has indicated that the package of measures rolled out in response to the Ukraine war could be extended beyond that date if necessary.

How much can I expect to save on fuel?

Taking into account the latest data by the Oil Bulletin of the European Union, by applying the 20-cent deduction, diesel in Spain would cost €1.63 per litre on average and unleaded 95 petrol would cost €1.61 per litre. 
According to Spanish consumer watchdog OCU, it will mean that the average Spanish household saves around €65 over the three-month period, or €75 for petrol.
It also obviously depends on the price of each fuel and the initial price set by the individual filling station.
So overall it won’t necessarily mean huge savings for drivers but it certainly helps to move away from the €2/litre rate of recent weeks.

Does the discount apply at all petrol stations in Spain?

According to the Spanish state bulletin (BOE),  the requirement of providing a 5 cent reduction only applies to companies “with refining capacity in Spain and an annual turnover of more than €750 million”.
This is the case for only three of petrol multinationals operating in Spain – Repsol, Cepsa and BP – which together represent 48 percent of the filling stations in the country. 
These companies also have offers for customers on their loyalty programmes and those managing their fuel payment via their mobile apps.
It’s worth remembering however that the Spanish government will cover at least 15 euro cents per litre at other petrol stations as well. 

How do I get the fuel discount?

There isn’t a registration process or modus operandi that has to be followed in order to enjoy the discount. 
The offer is open to everyone and is as straightforward as filling up your tank has always been. 
The only difference to keep in mind is that the price that will appear on the fuel counter as you fill up does not include the price reduction. This will be applied by staff members at the till when it comes to paying.
 

Recovering lost points 
If you’ve lost points off your licence, there’s a positive change that is now in force. If for two years you don’t commit any further driving offences, you can now recover all 12 points automatically. 
Previously there was a three-year wait for those who had committed a serious driving offence.
It will also now be possible to recover two points by carrying out a driving safety course. 

 
No drink-driving by minors 
People under the age of 18 in Spain will not be allowed to use an e-scooter or moped if they have drunk any alcohol at all. 
Even though the legal drinking age in Spain is 18, up to now minors were included in the same categories as adults, for whom the limit is 0.25 milligrammes of alcohol.