Atention, drivers: this new traffic regulation may cause you to lose your license in 2024

In 2024, the new traffic regulations that will change everything come into effect, bringing with it a series of significant changes to road legislation in Spain. This update not only aims to integrate previous modifications but also to harmonize and clarify the Law on Traffic, Motor Vehicle Circulation, and Road Safety. Below, I detail the most relevant aspects you need to know to adapt to these new provisions.

SUMMARY:

From January 2024, the regulations will change in several aspects

With the entry into force of Law 6/2014 and its final provision, the government has undertaken the task of publishing a consolidated text that integrates all the modifications introduced by various laws. This text aims to collect, regularize, clarify, and harmonize the numerous regulations that have altered the original law.

Vocabulary update and internal cohesion

The update and review of vocabulary and the internal cohesion of the text are highlighted, improving the ordering of the articles. Extensive provisions have been divided into several articles, regulating violations according to their severity and detailing important aspects such as :

• The loss and recovery of points.
• The loss of validity of driving authorizations.

Additionally, the content has been adapted to recent modifications in other laws, such as Law 30/1992 and Law 15/2014, and included the transposition of Directive (EU) 2015/413 on the cross-border exchange of information on traffic violations.

Sanctioning procedures

The new sanctioning procedures for notifying and managing violations have also been updated. Violations are now divided into minor, serious, and very serious, with economic penalties varying according to the severity of the offense :

• Minor violations : Riding a bicycle without proper lighting, not wearing reflective clothing, violating vehicle control regulations.
• Serious violations : Failing to respect speed limits, improper overtaking, using handheld mobile devices while driving, not wearing seat belts.
• Very serious violations : Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving, participating in unauthorized races, use of radar jammers.

Fines can reach up to 20,000 euros, depending on the severity of the violation. A system for the recovery of points through awareness and road re-education courses for those who have lost points due to violations is also established.

Benefits for motorists

The new traffic regulations also bring significant benefits for motorists, aimed at improving road safety and promoting more responsible driving.

Cross-border exchange of information

One of the most important changes is the implementation of the cross-border exchange procedure for information on violations. This allows the identification of owners of vehicles registered in other European Union countries who have committed violations on Spanish territory. The Central Traffic Headquarters will act as the national contact point for information exchange with other member states.

The new regulations also require that license holders keep their addresses updated and assign electronic road addresses (DEV) for notifications related to driving authorizations. Notifications of violations and penalties can be made through the DEV or the Official State Gazette (BOE) if the DEV is not available.

Provisional measures and other measures

The regulations include provisional measures and other measures, such as the immobilization or withdrawal of vehicles in certain cases of serious violations. These measures are essential to ensure compliance with the law and increase safety on the roads.

The tables below show a comparison between violations and the associated fines according to severity :

Opinions in favor… and against

As is common with any legislative change, the new traffic regulations have generated diverse opinions, both in favor and against. Below, I highlight some of the most relevant viewpoints and arguments.

In favor

Many emphasize that this update is necessary to harmonize the legislation with European norms and other national laws. The implementation of cross-border information exchange and the measures to regulate violations reflect a desire to modernize the system. Furthermore, the inclusion of courses for point recovery, along with clearer and detailed penalties, adds a crucial educational element for drivers.

Against

However, there are critical voices who believe that some aspects of the regulations could be excessively restrictive. For instance, fines of up to 20,000 euros are seen as extremely high penalties that could disproportionately affect drivers. Additionally, the mandatory registration to an electronic road address (DEV) has been deemed invasive by some, raising concerns about privacy and personal data management.

Personally, as someone passionate about mechanics and car design, I believe that road safety must be a priority. The regulations aim to ultimately reduce accidents and save lives, although it is always important to balance penalties with educational and preventive measures. Of course, we will always be attentive to how this legislation evolves and to the responses from the automotive community and drivers.

As we implement these new rules, I invite you to explore more about advances in vehicle technology that can help us improve our driving experience and safety. You can find more information in the following links :

• The smart roads that are coming… and those that are already here
• Detection systems in cars to prevent accidents
• All new technologies and applications to prevent traffic accidents
• Tesla revolutionizes autonomous driving with innovative highlighted technological improvements

For more details on these topics and many others related to traffic and road safety, I invite you to keep exploring my website, where you will always find the most updated and relevant information.