Pere Navarro announced the new rule at a forum where he also referred to the future requirement to wear gloves and helmets for motorcyclists and riders, respectively.
The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), headed by Pere Navarro, is taking vulnerable groups very seriously: motorcyclists and cyclists as well as so-called riders, who specialise in home delivery and are increasingly common in cities. At the end of January, Navarro spoke about several new measures under way affecting this group: pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. He did so at a discussion organised by Executive Forum in collaboration with Abertis Autopistas and Indra.
Road cycling involves certain dangers. An accident involving two vehicles can be particularly serious, but if cyclists are involved, the outcome is liable to be truly tragic. As happened in 2001, when a driver ran over the cyclist brothers Ricardo and Javier Otxoa, killing the former and leaving the latter badly injured with serious neurological after-effects.
In 2020, despite restrictions on freedom of movement, cyclist deaths remained unacceptably high. Specifically, 36 people lost their lives while riding a bike. In fact, it was the group in which the accident rate fell the least compared with 2019. Given the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic, it is clear that these figures point to a problem.
Safe overtaking
This reality, which affects those who cycle on the hard shoulders of dual carriageways and on secondary roads, has prompted the DGT to introduce a rule in the Royal Decree that will amend the Law on Traffic, Motor Vehicle Circulation and Road Safety. This amendment will require drivers to brake when they are about to overtake cyclists.
Braking and a safe distance of 1.50 metres. Under no circumstances may a cyclist be overtaken if one or more others are coming in the opposite direction, as is already the case. Speed must be 20 km/h below the general limit of the road in question. This measure adds to the 30 km/h speed limit in cities, which we have discussed here before.
Motorcyclists and riders
Navarro also announced that motorcyclists will have to wear gloves, while delivery riders will be required to wear a helmet. These are further new features of the new General Traffic Regulations, which are being revised to protect the most vulnerable. "They are professionals who ride bicycles, who are in a hurry, who move around the city… this has already been discussed with the employers' association and they are delighted, because it is common sense", he added.