Spain is preparing new traffic management measures that could affect freight operators across the country. Under a regulation published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) will have the authority to impose temporary overtaking restrictions on heavy goods vehicles in specific locations and during designated periods throughout 2026.
The restrictions will apply to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes, as well as certain special-purpose vehicles and transport requiring additional permits. Rather than being a permanent nationwide rule, the bans will be activated only when road safety concerns or traffic conditions justify such measures.
Importantly, the regulation does not prohibit passenger cars from overtaking trucks. Instead, it limits the ability of heavy trucks themselves to perform overtaking maneuvers on designated routes.
Traffic Flow and Safety Take Priority
According to DGT, the restrictions may be enforced on road sections listed in the regulation’s annexes as well as on other highways where traffic conditions require intervention. Authorities are expected to use the measure primarily during peak travel periods, holiday traffic surges, weekend return journeys, and on heavily congested freight corridors.
The goal is to prevent situations commonly referred to as “elephant races,” where one truck slowly overtakes another while occupying overtaking lanes for extended periods, significantly reducing traffic flow and increasing the risk of congestion.
Drivers will be informed about temporary restrictions through roadside signs, variable message boards, and traffic management systems. As a result, transport companies operating in Spain will need to monitor traffic information closely and adjust route planning accordingly.
Industry analysts note that similar overtaking restrictions are already used in several European countries as an effective tool for managing traffic volumes and improving road safety. With freight traffic continuing to grow across Europe, authorities are increasingly looking for ways to maximize road capacity without imposing permanent restrictions on commercial transport.
For international carriers, the new Spanish measures could affect delivery schedules and transit times on major transport corridors, particularly on busy motorways where heavy truck traffic is concentrated. However, officials believe the restrictions will ultimately help reduce bottlenecks and improve overall traffic efficiency.
As Spain seeks to balance freight mobility with road safety and congestion management, temporary overtaking bans may become an increasingly important component of the country’s transport policy in the coming years.
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