City Warns of Congestion Risk
Barcelona City Council has formally asked the Spanish Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) for a moratorium on a new traffic regulation set to take effect on Thursday 1 October 2026. The rule, established under Royal Decree 518/2026, prohibits flashing orange lights for vehicles at intersections where pedestrians have a green signal to cross. Technicians warn that strict application of the rule would affect approximately 1,550 intersections in Barcelona where this configuration currently operates. Modifying all these signals would require extending traffic light cycles and introducing new phases, potentially increasing congestion and reducing green light time for pedestrians, the very group the rule aims to protect.
Benefits of Current System at Risk
According to the council, the flashing orange light serves multiple safety functions: it increases visibility at crossings, warns drivers of turning vehicles, and reinforces the legal obligation to yield to pedestrians. Removing it, the council argues, could undermine these benefits without delivering clear safety gains. The request also highlights the impact on cycling infrastructure. Around 500 intersections in Barcelona use flashing orange lights specifically for cyclists, supporting the continuity and fluidity of bike routes. The new DGT rules could disrupt these configurations, affecting the safety and efficiency of cycling across the city.
New Scooter Rules to Proceed
While challenging the traffic light change, the city must comply with other elements of the new national regulations. One such change lowers the minimum age for riding electric scooters and other personal mobility vehicles (VMPs) from 16 to 15 years. Since state regulations override municipal rules, this change will take effect on 1 October despite Barcelona’s previous 16-year minimum. However, the requirement for helmet use, already introduced in Barcelona in 2025, remains in place and is now reinforced by the national framework. The DGT’s new rules also mandate that VMPs be equipped with lights, though full 24-hour lighting will not be required until 1 October 2027. Barcelona City Council is awaiting a response from the DGT, hoping for clear technical criteria that allow urban-specific adaptations to the new traffic light rule.
Primary sources: barcelona.cat, ajuntament.barcelona.cat. Reported by beteve.cat, modernetdigital.cat, autoviatest.com, thelocal.es, Observatorio Nacional de Seguridad Vial, dgt.es, ultimahora.es, betevé.
