€500 fine and 6 points for leaving roundabouts wrong: Spain's new road trap
From 6 May, leaving a roundabout from the inner lane in Spain costs €500 and 6 points. The rule, full of ambiguities, opens the door to arbitrary interpretation.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
€500 fine and 6 points for leaving roundabouts wrong: Spain's new road trap
Since 6 May 2026, the reform of Spain's traffic regulations (Reglamento de Circulación) has been in force, punishing certain roundabout manoeuvres with a €500 fine and 6 licence points. Announced as a safety improvement, the measure has sparked a flood of criticism from drivers who see it as a new regulatory maze impossible to navigate without committing an offence.
What exactly is banned?
The key to the controversy is the ban on leaving a roundabout from the inner lane, something which, under a literal interpretation, would force drivers to make successive lane changes towards the outside before exiting. Supporters of the rule argue it aims to prevent sudden swerves and collisions, but critics point out that on small roundabouts or in heavy traffic this sequential manoeuvre is simply impracticable.
The fine print nobody reads
The original wording allows exiting from the inner lane "if other vehicles are not obstructed", a clause that opens up an enormous margin of interpretation. This creates legal uncertainty that, in practice, turns every driver into a potential offender. The debate is no small matter: in 2025 Spain recorded more than 50,000 accidents at roundabouts, but mostly due to speeding or poor signage, not exits from the inner lane.
A rule designed to raise revenue
With the fine set at €500 and the loss of 6 points, the temptation to raise revenue is obvious. Local councils, with ever more widespread cameras, can turn roundabouts into a new bottomless pit for the motorist's wallet. Next time you drive through one, remember: better to go around again than risk a questionable penalty.
Related discussions in the forum
Since 6 May 2026, the reform of Spain's traffic regulations (Reglamento de Circulación) has been in force, punishing certain roundabout manoeuvres with a €500 fine and 6 licence points. Announced as a safety improvement, the measure has sparked a flood of criticism from drivers who see it as a new regulatory maze impossible to navigate without committing an offence.
What exactly is banned?
The key to the controversy is the ban on leaving a roundabout from the inner lane, something which, under a literal interpretation, would force drivers to make successive lane changes towards the outside before exiting. Supporters of the rule argue it aims to prevent sudden swerves and collisions, but critics point out that on small roundabouts or in heavy traffic this sequential manoeuvre is simply impracticable.
The fine print nobody reads
The original wording allows exiting from the inner lane "if other vehicles are not obstructed", a clause that opens up an enormous margin of interpretation. This creates legal uncertainty that, in practice, turns every driver into a potential offender. The debate is no small matter: in 2025 Spain recorded more than 50,000 accidents at roundabouts, but mostly due to speeding or poor signage, not exits from the inner lane.
A rule designed to raise revenue
With the fine set at €500 and the loss of 6 points, the temptation to raise revenue is obvious. Local councils, with ever more widespread cameras, can turn roundabouts into a new bottomless pit for the motorist's wallet. Next time you drive through one, remember: better to go around again than risk a questionable penalty.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (5 replies).
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