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Spain's Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) is rolling out a new type of road marking on some of the country's trickiest curves, small white circles designed specifically with cyclists and motorcyclists in mind.

 

The idea has already been used successfully in other countries and is aimed at cutting down the number of accidents involving two wheeled vehicles on bends.

 

The move comes as the DGT continues to focus its attention on what it calls vulnerable road users. According to the traffic body, Royal Decree 518/2026 will come into force on October 1, updating the General Traffic Regulations with fresh rules aimed at keeping this group safer on Spain's roads.

 

Cyclists and motorcyclists fall firmly into this category, and it's for them that the new white circles have been designed.

 

The circles are painted consecutively along the inside of curves, right next to the centre line, giving riders an easy and intuitive visual cue to follow. The idea is that riders shouldn't drive over the circles, but should stay outside of them, well clear of the centre line.

 

When a rider leans into a bend, their head and torso can drift into the opposite lane even if their wheels stay firmly within their own, particularly if they take the curve too close to the dividing line. Keeping riders away from the centre line, the DGT pointed out, means their entire body stays within the safety of their own lane, which helps prevent collisions with vehicles coming the other way.

 

The DGT has also assured riders that the paint used for the circles has a special high-adhesion coating, so accidentally rolling over one poses no risk of losing control.

 

The markings are being installed on the most dangerous curves, either just before the bend or right through it, with a particular focus on conventional two-way roads, since these account for the vast majority of serious motorcycle accidents in Spain.

 

A total of 304 motorcyclists lost their lives on Spain's roads throughout 2025, and the breakdown shows why conventional roads are such a priority, with 232 of those deaths happening on conventional roads compared with 72 on motorways and dual carriageways.

 

Poor driving lines and taking bends too fast are among the factors behind many of these fatal accidents, and it's these black spots that traffic authorities are now targeting with a low-cost but effective fix.

 

 

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