Speed limit to be reduced to 90kmph on secondary roads

Fernández Díaz, who made the announcement at the Traffic School in Mérida, said this decision came in response to the fact that "77% of road accidents, including fatal accidents, occur on the country's secondary roads".

He confirmed that the "main objective and priority" of speed limits was to guarantee road safety, whilst allowing for maximum mobility. For this reason, the Minister has decided to reduce the speed limit on secondary roads to a maximum of 90kmph.

Furthermore, on stretches of roads that are 6.5 metres wide or less, the speed limit will be reduced to 60kmph. With regard to the motorway network, the minister confirmed that he was studying the possibility of increasing the maximum speed limit from 120kmph to 130kmph.

Any change to the maximum speed limit on motorways would, he said, have to take into account a number of variables, including the condition of the road surface, the amount of traffic, weather conditions, etc. with a variable speed limit linked to each of these the most likely solution.

With regard to cyclists, the Minister underlined the fact that bicycles were not to be used on pavements around town and said he was looking at making the use of safety helmets obligatory in town as well as on main roads.