Spain’s roads and motorways are preparing for a radical change in traffic regulations that directly affects heavy vehicles. A new regulation published in the Official State Gazette grants the power to prohibit overtaking lorries on certain stretches of road and at certain times, generating intense debate among transport companies, private drivers and road safety experts. The measure does not come as a surprise. For years, Spanish drivers have experienced stressful situations when one lorry attempts to overtake another at a similar speed, causing unnecessary traffic jams and dangerous moments on the roads.
Now, the competent authority has the legal power to intervene directly in these manoeuvres when it deems it necessary to preserve traffic flow and safety. The core of this regulation lies in the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of the vehicles concerned. According to the officially published text, the restriction applies specifically to vehicles exceeding 7,500 kilograms. This category mainly includes heavy goods vehicles, tractor trucks and articulated vehicle combinations that regularly travel on the country’s main roads.
The wording of the official document leaves no room for ambiguity: the traffic authority may establish specific geographical areas and time slots where these vehicles will be required to stay in the right lane without the possibility of overtaking. This power provides a flexible tool that can be adapted to the specific characteristics of each section of road and changing traffic conditions. The criteria for implementing these restrictions will be based on traffic studies and accident analysis in each area.
This is not a generalised ban, but a selective measure that will be activated at points where statistics show greater conflict or where traffic density makes it advisable to limit the manoeuvres of larger vehicles. The official justification for this measure rests on two clearly differentiated fundamental pillars. The first is increased road safety. Statistics show that overtaking manoeuvres between heavy vehicles are critical points where high-risk situations are concentrated.
When one lorry starts to overtake another with only a few kilometres per hour difference, a moving barrier is created that forces other drivers to slow down abruptly. These chain braking manoeuvres are not only annoying, but also exponentially increase the risk of rear-end collisions, especially in adverse weather conditions or at times of high traffic density.
The second objective is to improve traffic flow. A left lane free of heavy vehicles allows cars and light vehicles to maintain a more constant and uniform speed. This regularity in traffic reduces the famous ‘accordion’ effect, those continuous accelerations and braking manoeuvres that cause frustration among drivers and, paradoxically, contribute to increased fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.