New traffic rules apply in Mallorca – what holidaymakers need to know now

If you are traveling in Mallorca with a rental car or scooter, you should also be aware of the current traffic regulations. The new traffic and traffic safety law has been in force since Monday, March 21, 2022 – not only on the Balearic Islands, but also on the Spanish mainland. .

Similar to Germany, there is a points system in Spain to punish driving errors or traffic offenses. However, the Spanish principle works a little differently: At the beginning, each driver receives a quota of twelve points, novice drivers start with eight. A certain number of points are always deducted for each violation of the Spanish traffic regulations. If all points are gone, your driver’s license will be revoked. The points system does not apply to holidaymakers, and you cannot lose your driving license abroad. However, this does not protect you from fines that you can receive from the Spanish public order office or the police if you disobey the traffic rules on Mallorca. However, it is difficult to determine how much money must actually be paid for violations due to the point system.

Mallorca’s new traffic rules / driving safety

On conventional roads, drivers of cars and motorbikes are not allowed to exceed the speed limit by more than 20 km/h when overtaking.

According to the “Dirección General de Tráfico”, this measure is intended to minimize the risk of accidents when overtaking. In addition, with the new rule, you can no longer drive more than 100 km/h on the road between Palma and Manacor.

The use of seat belts is mandatory.

Before the new traffic rules, violating this law on Mallorca was not seen as strictly. Now, however, four points are deducted instead of just three.

You are not allowed to hold your cell phone while driving.
Throwing objects on or off the road that could cause fire or accidents is prohibited.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s empty French fries bags or cigarette butts – throwing out rubbish is environmental pollution and in the worst case can start a fire.

On roads with more than one lane per side, to overtake a bicycle or motorcycle, one must use the full adjacent lane. A distance of 1.5 meters must be maintained on single-lane roads.

It is forbidden to stop or park on bike lanes.
Cyclists are often the most vulnerable road users on the road and should be better protected.

Radar blockers are prohibited

Carrying speed traps or speed cameras in vehicles is now prohibited, regardless of whether they are connected or not.

Such blockers prevent speed cameras from measuring the speed of the vehicle. The use of these devices was previously prohibited in Spain, but now carrying them is also an administrative offence. Before getting in, it is best to search your rental car and make sure that there is no radar blocker in the car.

Driver’s license

It is no longer necessary to carry the driver’s license with you in physical form. Alternatively, you can also use the miDGT app to prove that you are authorized to drive.

This is particularly practical for tourists in Mallorca, as they no longer have to take all the important identification documents with them. According to the “Mallorca Zeitung”, however, registering with the miDGT app is difficult.

Rules for motorcyclists and moped drivers

Wearing a helmet is mandatory when riding or riding a motorbike or moped.

Rules for minors and e-scooters

Underage cyclists and e-scooter drivers must be completely sober (0.0 per thousand) when participating in road traffic.

This applies to all “vehículos de movilidad personal” – i.e. vehicles with up to two wheels that are designed for one driver and drive at a maximum of 25 km/h. With this change, the use of e-scooters and e-scooters in Mallorca is now also specified in the traffic regulations.

The use of bicycles and e-scooters on motorways and expressways is prohibited.