Speed limit regulations on Spanish motorways and dual carriageways are undergoing significant changes aimed at improving road safety and reducing accident rates. The 120 km/h speed limit on motorways, alongside the continued elimination of the additional 20 km/h margin for overtaking on conventional roads, has sparked intense debate in recent years. In this scenario, the DGT (Spanish Traffic Authority) stands firm on its decision to eliminate this overtaking allowance, a measure included in the 19th reform of the Traffic Law that came into effect in March 2022.
In 2025, studies and practical experiences have provided insight into the effectiveness and impact of these regulations. Since March 2022, the DGT has maintained the elimination of the 20 km/h margin that previously allowed drivers to exceed the speed limit when overtaking on conventional roads with a single lane in each direction. This measure, part of extensive reforms to traffic regulations, generated considerable controversy among various groups.
Organisations such as Stop Accidentes, AXA Foundation, and Fesvial supported the measure, while motorcyclist representatives, including the International Union for the Defence of Motorcyclists (IMU), advocated for maintaining the margin to facilitate safer overtaking manoeuvres. The Spanish Congress initially rejected the proposal, but the Senate reinstated the DGT's original approach, which argued that the measure was a necessary step to reduce accidents and save lives.
Pere Navarro, then Director-General of Traffic, defended this stance, emphasising that it wasn't about popularity but road safety. Following a year of evaluation, in May 2024 the DGT published a comparative study of overtaking incidents between 2019 and the two years following the elimination of the margin (2023 and 2024). This report found that 7% of fatalities on conventional roads with a single lane in each direction occurred in overtaking-related incidents, a figure that remained stable after the regulatory change.
Motorway speed regulations: limits and penalties
On Spanish motorways and dual carriageways, where the standard limit is 120 km/h, the penalty policy is strict and graduated. Exceeding the limit by 21 to 30 km/h results in the loss of two points from one's driving licence, while exceeding it by 31 to 40 km/h means the withdrawal of four points. For higher speeds, between 41 and 50 km/h above the limit, the penalty increases to six points.
If drivers exceed the limit by more than 50 km/h, effectively driving at 171 km/h or faster, the infraction is considered very serious with a financial penalty of €600 and the withdrawal of six points. These measures form part of a comprehensive system that monitors and penalises excessive speeds to promote caution and reduce accident rates in high-speed zones, reinforcing the importance of responsible and safe driving.