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Drivers in Spain could soon face prison sentences for extreme speeding under new plans being considered by the government.

 

On Tuesday March 24, Spain’s Congress of Deputies agreed to begin processing a legal reform that would lower the threshold at which speeding becomes a criminal offence. The proposal, put forward by the Socialist Party, was backed by a majority in parliament.

 

If the changes are approved, the limits that trigger criminal charges would be reduced by 10 km/h across the board. That means drivers exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h in urban areas, or 70 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways, could be treated as committing a criminal offence rather than just receiving a fine.

 

In practical terms, that would make a big difference in towns and cities. Driving at more than 80 km/h in a 30 km/h zone or over 100 km/h in a 50 km/h area could land someone in serious legal trouble. On motorways, where the usual limit is 120 km/h, speeds above 190 km/h would fall into the same category.

 

The penalties themselves wouldn’t change. Judges would still have the option to impose prison sentences of between three and six months, financial penalties lasting six to twelve months, or community service. Anyone convicted would also face a driving ban of at least one year and up to four years.

 

According to the proposal, the updated rules could come into force quite quickly, with a two month window between publication in the Official State Gazette and implementation.

 

The government explained that the current limits, which were introduced nearly two decades ago, are now out of date and don’t reflect modern research or international road safety standards. The aim is to bring Spain more in line with current thinking across Europe.

 

Speed continues to play a major role in road deaths across the country. In 2024, excessive or inappropriate speed was linked to 22% of fatal accidents. Studies also suggest that even a small increase in speed has a significant impact on risk, with a 1% rise in speed associated with a 4% increase in the likelihood of a fatal crash.

 

The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) processes around 3.5 million speeding tickets annually, with roughly 450,000 of those resulting in points being taken off licences. That accounts for about 40% of all penalties involving points.

 

According to the Línea Directa Foundation, reducing speeds on interurban roads by 20 km/h could save hundreds of lives every year in Spain. Similar recommendations have been made by global organisations aiming to cut road deaths by half before 2030.

 

Elsewhere in Europe, stricter rules are already being introduced. In France, new measures this year mean that exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h is now treated as a criminal offence.

 

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Image: Guardia Civil