Why it matters right now
The Costa del Sol has rarely been busier. Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport handled more than 3 million passengers in August alone and over 19.3 million between January and August 2026, 6.6% more than in the same period of 2025, according to Cadena SER. July was the first month in the airport's history to pass the three-million mark, as Sur in English reported.
More visitors means more rental cars on the A-7 and AP-7, more cyclists on scenic roads and more pedestrians in the old towns. That is exactly the mix the new rules are designed for.
What changed on 1 October
The reform comes from Royal Decree 518/2026, which amends Spain's General Traffic Regulations. According to the DGT (Spain's traffic authority), its main aim is to protect "vulnerable road users", a term that is now formally defined for the first time and covers pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and users of e-scooters and other personal mobility vehicles.
Overtaking cyclists
Cycling is hugely popular on the roads around Ronda, the Axarquía and the hills behind Marbella. When you overtake a cyclist on an interurban road, you must now:
- reduce your speed by at least 20 km/h below the road's speed limit;
- keep a lateral gap of at least 1.5 metres;
- move completely into the other lane where there is more than one lane in your direction.
In towns, cyclists should generally ride in the centre of their lane, and drivers must keep at least 5 metres behind a cyclist travelling ahead of them in the same lane.
The emergency corridor in traffic jams
This is the change most likely to catch visitors out. When traffic on a motorway or dual carriageway slows to walking pace or stops, drivers must now move aside to open a corridor for emergency vehicles, as Sur in English explains:
- Two lanes: cars in the left lane move left, cars in the right lane move right, leaving the gap in the middle.
- Three or more lanes: the left lane moves left, and all other lanes move right, so the gap opens between the left lane and the one next to it.
Passing stopped vehicles
If you pass vehicles stopped because of an accident, a breakdown, roadside assistance, maintenance work or traffic control, you must leave 1.5 metres of lateral space and slow down by at least 20 km/h below the limit.
Scooters, motorbikes and pedestrians
If you rent a scooter or motorbike, note that gloves are now compulsory on interurban roads and closed footwear on all roads. E-scooter riders must be at least 15, wear a helmet and use a reflective vest at night or in poor visibility. On single-surface streets with no separate pavement, common in historic centres, pedestrians have priority.
A busy weekend to plan around
The new rules arrive just in time for one of autumn's busiest travel weekends. For the Pilar long weekend, the DGT expects 258,200 long-distance journeys in Málaga province, the second-highest figure in Andalusia after Seville, with a special traffic operation running from 3 pm on Friday 9 October until midnight on Monday 12 October. Across Andalusia, the forecast is more than 1.2 million journeys, with the A-7, AP-7 and MA-20 among the roads expected to be busiest.
Peak times in Málaga province are forecast for Friday between 3 pm and 9 pm; Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm; and Sunday and Monday from 11 am to 3 pm and again from 4 pm to 9 pm. It only takes one incident to cause long queues: on the morning of 9 October, an accident near El Higuerón caused kilometres of tailbacks on the A-7 towards Málaga, with traffic also stopped on the AP-7 toll road.
Practical tips for your Costa del Sol road trip
- Time your day trips. On busy weekends, set off early for places like Ronda, Nerja or the Caminito del Rey and avoid the forecast peak hours on the way back.
- Give cyclists real space. On mountain roads, wait for a straight, clear stretch and slow down before you pass.
- Know the corridor. If traffic stops on the A-7 or AP-7, move to the side straight away rather than waiting to hear a siren.
- Watch for pedestrians in old towns. Narrow streets in Mijas, Marbella's old town and Málaga's centre often have no separate pavement.
Driving here is still one of the most rewarding ways to see southern Spain. With a little planning and the new rules in mind, the coast and the white villages are all within easy reach.