The new requirements will take effect on October 1, 2026, when the reform of the General Traffic Regulations comes into force. The aim is to reduce the severity of injuries among motorcyclists, one of the most vulnerable groups when an accident occurs.
GLOVES ON ROADS AND CLOSED FOOTWEAR EVERYWHERE
Gloves will be mandatory when traveling on interurban roads, such as conventional roads, motorways and highways. They will therefore be required on journeys along interurban sections of the A-2, A-23, A-68, N-232 or any other road in Aragon. Within built-up areas, however, state regulations will not require riders to wear them.
Closed footwear will be mandatory on all types of roads, including the streets of Zaragoza, Huesca, Teruel and other municipalities. The text published in the BOE specifies that it must cover the entire foot, ruling out flip-flops, sandals and any other open footwear.
The regulation does not yet specify the technical characteristics that gloves must meet. Until the Ministry of the Interior publishes the corresponding order, riders may use protective gloves similar to those currently worn by motorcyclists. This does not mean that any everyday glove will be acceptable: they must be designed to protect the hands while riding.
€200 FINES FOR BREACHING THE RULES
Riding without gloves when they are mandatory or wearing open footwear will be considered a serious offense and punished with a €200 fine, according to the Ministry of the Interior. If the fine is paid within 20 calendar days of notification, a 50% reduction may be applied, bringing the amount down to €100, although the penalized person will waive the right to submit an appeal.
The obligations apply both to the rider and the passenger and also extend to users of mopeds, three-wheeled vehicles, quadricycles and quads. It will therefore not be enough for only the person riding to be properly equipped.
The reform will also require motorcycles to carry a reflective vest for use when the rider gets off the vehicle and occupies the roadway or shoulder of an interurban road. In addition, motorcycles may travel along the right shoulder during traffic jams, but only on previously signposted sections, in single file and without exceeding 30 kilometers per hour.
