Air Bag vests for Spain - Jan 2026 ?

[Alan PBTD]

Planning to go to Lisbon June 2026 with a load of Harleys - come across this : https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/07/28/s ... s-by-2026/

Trip just got a bit more expensive - and same for pillions ?

Can anyone shed some light on it ?

ta v much.

Alan

[Yorick]

I've lived in Spain 10 years and never heard of this

[MrLongbeard]

Wait for someone who lives in or near to get the down low, but;

https://www.poiexissglobus.com/dgt-advo ... orcyclists

https://www.dgt.es/comunicacion/notas-d ... eficiente/

The use of airbags is mandatory for both students and teachers. This essential piece of motorcyclist equipment protects critical areas of the chest, an area where 35 percent of motorcyclists who die and more than 25 percent of hospitalized motorcyclists suffer injuries.

May not apply to average joe who already holds a licesne :dunno: the above is from their transport ministry and I can't find owt else

[Alan PBTD]

Cheers - had seen the bit about new riders having to have them so I suppose we'll have to wait and see what comes up.

[The Spin Doctor]

I ran the story on Elevenses this morning - I've been listing updates as they've emerged.

They will be compulsory from Jan 1 for 'large machines on intercity roads'.

The report said they would be compulsory for riders with A licences, but that makes no sense at all - you could be riding a 125 scooter on an A licence, so I'm guessing that it will apply to riders on A category machines, though since A2 machines can easily top 100 mph, that seems an equally odd distinction.

For the moment, airbags won't be required for city riders, although once again precisely what constitutes in town and out of town isn't clear. Presumably an urban limit sign, although what size of urban area is also not clear.

I believe that airbags must be CE-certificated for motorcycle use - so the cheap online market places that have been selling life jackets as motorcycle airbags are not a source.

If I manage to find a clearer explanation, I'll post it.

[Yorick]

Complete bollox.

[Noggin]

I saw a similar article over here saying the Fronch were going to implement this law for all bikers and pretty sure is said this summer

I saw it once on FB as an article, shared to a biker page

Never seen it since and if it had actually been real, I'm pretty sure I'd have seen an absolute shit ton of posts about it !!


No idea about Spain - and if it is true for France, they are doing it so quietly that the people that are supposed to be wearing them haven't seen any info about it !!

[MrLongbeard]

I ran the story on Elevenses this morning - I've been listing updates as they've emerged.

They will be compulsory from Jan 1 for 'large machines on intercity roads'.

Source? as that's not I get from the DGT press release linked in my previous reply.

The new amendment, Order INT/210/2025, to their laws is for "regulating training for progressive access to a class A driving license.
" only, https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?i ... -2025-4408

And I can find nothing in their other laws https://www.dgt.es/muevete-con-segurida ... index.html? that would make me believe this applies to all riders holding or riding a class A motorcycle.

If it is going to become compulsory for all they're being very opaque with the information releases.

[Alan PBTD]

Apparently not :
Federation of European Motorcyclists Assoc.

Airbags for motorcyclists are not mandatory in Spain.
In recent weeks, several media outlets have reported that Spain’s DGT (traffic authority) plans to make motorcycle airbags mandatory by 2026 and that similar measures are already in place in countries like France and Italy. This is NOT true.
Our Spanish member organisation, ANM - Asociación Nacional de Motoristas, has confirmed there is no such obligation, not in Spain, nor in any other EU country, including France and Italy.
The facts: back in 2021, a draft of Spain’s revised road safety regulations did include a proposal to make airbag vests or jackets mandatory for motorcyclists. ANM and PMSV, representing over 600,000 riders, strongly opposed this. Their position: while airbags are a valuable safety innovation, they should be encouraged, not enforced.
In Spain currently only 3,500 units per year are sold, while there are over 6 million riders. Forcing a rule like this would cause supply shortages and price hikes, further limiting access. The DGT ultimately withdrew the proposal and agreed not to revisit it until the gear becomes affordable and widely used.
In July 2024, ANM submitted comments to the newest draft of the road code (to be approved by early 2026). They’ve reviewed the entire draft and confirm: there is no clause making airbags mandatory for individual motorcyclists. In Spain airbags are currently only mandatory for training at driving schools. ANM contacted DGT leadership directly. Their response? The rumor is “totally fake.”
FEMA supports efforts by ANM and PMSV to make airbags more affordable, including their campaign to eliminate VAT on certified airbag vests. The DGT supports this idea, but the final decision lies with the Ministry of Finance.
FEMA’s stance is clear: we believe airbags are important safety innovations, as long as they’re certified and high quality (watch out for cheap, unverified imports), but we do not support making airbags mandatory. Rider safety should be promoted through education and accessibility, not imposed by law.Airbags for motorcyclists are not mandatory in Spain.
In recent weeks, several media outlets have reported that Spain’s DGT (traffic authority) plans to make motorcycle airbags mandatory by 2026 and that similar measures are already in place in countries like France and Italy. This is NOT true.
Our Spanish member organisation, ANM - Asociación Nacional de Motoristas, has confirmed there is no such obligation, not in Spain, nor in any other EU country, including France and Italy.
The facts: back in 2021, a draft of Spain’s revised road safety regulations did include a proposal to make airbag vests or jackets mandatory for motorcyclists. ANM and PMSV, representing over 600,000 riders, strongly opposed this. Their position: while airbags are a valuable safety innovation, they should be encouraged, not enforced.
In Spain currently only 3,500 units per year are sold, while there are over 6 million riders. Forcing a rule like this would cause supply shortages and price hikes, further limiting access. The DGT ultimately withdrew the proposal and agreed not to revisit it until the gear becomes affordable and widely used.
In July 2024, ANM submitted comments to the newest draft of the road code (to be approved by early 2026). They’ve reviewed the entire draft and confirm: there is no clause making airbags mandatory for individual motorcyclists. In Spain airbags are currently only mandatory for training at driving schools. ANM contacted DGT leadership directly. Their response? The rumor is “totally fake.”
FEMA supports efforts by ANM and PMSV to make airbags more affordable, including their campaign to eliminate VAT on certified airbag vests. The DGT supports this idea, but the final decision lies with the Ministry of Finance.
FEMA’s stance is clear: we believe airbags are important safety innovations, as long as they’re certified and high quality (watch out for cheap, unverified imports), but we do not support making airbags mandatory. Rider safety should be promoted through education and accessibility, not imposed by law.

[The Spin Doctor]

I ran the story on Elevenses this morning - I've been listing updates as they've emerged.

They will be compulsory from Jan 1 for 'large machines on intercity roads'.

Source? as that's not I get from the DGT press release linked in my previous reply.

The new amendment, Order INT/210/2025, to their laws is for "regulating training for progressive access to a class A driving license.
" only, https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?i ... -2025-4408

And I can find nothing in their other laws https://www.dgt.es/muevete-con-segurida ... index.html? that would make me believe this applies to all riders holding or riding a class A motorcycle.

If it is going to become compulsory for all they're being very opaque with the information releases.

Seems to be the right answer. I did say in my Elevenses piece that it all seemed very confused and that I would check!

As far as I can tell it's all taken from one story which seems to have been syndicated on several other sites, then hit places like UKGSer. This may be the original.

https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/07/28/s ... s-by-2026/

Having done a bit more digging, I am fully persuaded you're definitely right, that there is no universal rule that would apply to all riders, and that the new law will apply to riders under instruction on Cat A bikes only. Thanks for the link - I hadn't found that one.

Which of course does beg the question: "why only Cat A?" A crash at 60 mph on any A, A1 or A2 bike is going to be just as heavy an impact.

And wouldn't riders under instruction be less likely to crash on a course anyway?

Maybe the rationale is to get those riders used to using airbags during training so that it feels natural to wear one post-training.

[The Spin Doctor]

Apparently not :
Federation of European Motorcyclists Assoc.

Airbags for motorcyclists are not mandatory in Spain.
In recent weeks, several media outlets have reported that Spain’s DGT (traffic authority) plans to make motorcycle airbags mandatory by 2026 and that similar measures are already in place in countries like France and Italy. This is NOT true.
Our Spanish member organisation, ANM - Asociación Nacional de Motoristas, has confirmed there is no such obligation, not in Spain, nor in any other EU country, including France and Italy.

Thanks for that too.

It seems that the entire rumour has arisen from one badly-informed story which has been syndicated to other press outlets, and been picked up by various bike groups.

Corrections to my own webcast going up.

[MrLongbeard]

Maybe the rationale is to get those riders used to using airbags during training so that it feels natural to wear one post-training.

That'd be my best guess as to their thinking, softly softly catchy monkey, and in 10, 15, 20 years time they're the norm without having to mandate an expensive unpopular choice.

[Pirahna]

There was a speech earlier this year by the Spanish minister of transport, just about everything in it has been taken out of context. The air bag vest is one example, another good one is banning open face helmets.

There's an English language website/Facebook group called N332 (N332 is the name of coast road around Alicante), it's run by Spanish traffic police with English ex plod writing articles as well. They published an article earlier this year after the speech saying open face helmets are now illegal. Complete bollox but just about every Brit or Dutch bloke with a bike tells me I should buy a different helmet. The other one is CE approved gloves.

If you are riding in Spain N332 is handy for Spanish traffic rules.

I've mentioned it before but, be very, very careful on roundabouts. The Spanish are taught to go around roundabouts in the outside lane (the right hand lane) and only indicate off. You can be on a multi lane roundabout and find people going all the way round to go back up the road they came down. If you're in the left hand lane be very cautious.

[The Spin Doctor]

There was a speech earlier this year by the Spanish minister of transport, just about everything in it has been taken out of context. The air bag vest is one example, another good one is banning open face helmets.

There's an English language website/Facebook group called N332 (N332 is the name of coast road around Alicante), it's run by Spanish traffic police with English ex plod writing articles as well. They published an article earlier this year after the speech saying open face helmets are now illegal. Complete bollox but just about every Brit or Dutch bloke with a bike tells me I should buy a different helmet. The other one is CE approved gloves.

If you are riding in Spain N332 is handy for Spanish traffic rules.

I've mentioned it before but, be very, very careful on roundabouts. The Spanish are taught to go around roundabouts in the outside lane (the right hand lane) and only indicate off. You can be on a multi lane roundabout and find people going all the way round to go back up the road they came down. If you're in the left hand lane be very cautious.

No wonder there's so much disinformation.

Incidentally, it's still common practice to turn left at a French roundabout from the outside lane - I remember almost being caught out going straight on on a trip back in the mid-80s. And I used to live near Leeds Castle in Kent. French drivers used to bomb down the M20, turn off, join the dual carriageway A20, then turn right from the left-hand lane at the roundabout off onto the B road that led to the castle entrance. Or rather didn't. I lost count of how many accident happened there.

[fdb]

I've mentioned it before but, be very, very careful on roundabouts. The Spanish are taught to go around roundabouts in the outside lane (the right hand lane) and only indicate off. You can be on a multi lane roundabout and find people going all the way round to go back up the road they came down. If you're in the left hand lane be very cautious.

I saw some efforts lately to change that, but you can get a driver license in Spain behaving that way, using the right lane to make a u turn in a roundabout. Biggest concerns is for not being conscious of incoming overtaking vehicles (if this case pupils are supposed to change speed or use left signal...)
Behaving that way in Portugal might get you fined.

[Yorick]

My missus took her driving test here.
Folk are taught to always use the right/outside lane. That's because if there's ever a collision, the insurance companies will favour cars in outside lane.

So they're taught to avoid potential problems.