During the summer, all you have to do is stop for a few seconds at any traffic light to check it out. Many of the women who use scooters to go to work, run errands, or get around the city do so in the same clothes they would wear walking. And that includes, on many occasions, sandals, open espadrilles or even flip-flops.
It is a logical choice from a comfort point of view, especially when temperatures exceed 35 degrees in much of Spain. However, that custom will have an expiration date. The reform of General Traffic Regulations establishes that, as of October 1, 2026, it will be mandatory to use “closed footwear” both to drive a motorcycle or moped and to travel as a passenger, regardless of whether the journey is urban or on the road.
The change will especially affect female scooter users.
Although the norm will be exactly the same for all motorcyclists, it will probably be most noticeable among women who use scooters as a means of daily transportation. This type of vehicle is mainly used for urban trips, short trips and daily trips, where until now it was very common to combine a completely informal style of dress with open shoes, especially during the summer months.
The new regulation of the DGT forces you to change that habit. Starting in October, sandals or flip-flops will no longer be compatible with driving a scooter, even if the distance is only a few hundred meters.
In addition, it also changes for whoever travels behind. Yes, the rule does not distinguish between who is driving and who occupies the passenger seat. This means that a companion will not be able to travel with sandals or flip-flops either, even if she is only going to travel a few minutes around the city. Furthermore, when the journey takes place on conventional roads, highways or highways, both the driver and the passenger must wear protective gloves.
Security is behind this decision of the DGT
The DGTand experts, have been recommending for years to avoid any footwear that leaves the foot unprotected. In a fall, even when riding at low speed in the city, the feet are usually one of the first parts of the body to hit the asphalt or become trapped between the motorcycle and the ground. An open shoe barely offers protection against abrasions or impacts.
For this reason, what until now was a recommendation becomes an legal obligation.
The DGT fine will be 200 euros
Circulating with footwear that does not comply with the regulations will be considered a serious infraction and may be punished with 200 euros. And there is an important detail: if the person who breaks the rule is the passenger, the sanction will fall on the person driving the motorcycle.
With this reform, the DGT It seeks to ensure that a scene as common as seeing scooters circulating through the city with female drivers or passengers in sandals will no longer be part of the urban landscape starting next fall.
