{
  "id": 12973089,
  "title": "Spain motorway speed limit could drop to just 40km/h under new traffic system",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/spain-motorway-speed-limit-could-drop-to-just-40km-h-under-new",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T22:28:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euro Weekly News",
    "slug": "euro-weekly-news",
    "url": "https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/09/spain-motorway-speed-limit-could-drop-to-just-40km-h-under-new-traffic-system/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Spain is testing a new system of variable speed limits on key motorway stretches, which could reduce the standard 120km/h limit to as low as 40km/h under certain conditions. The trial began on October 1, 2026, on the AP-7 and AP-2 highways in Catalonia. The speed limits on these sections can change in real time depending on factors such as traffic congestion, weather, and visibility.\n\nWhile the general speed limit on Spanish motorways remains at 120km/h, drivers should pay close attention to electronic signs above the road, as the posted limit may be modified according to current conditions. The AP-7 is one of the main highways involved in the trial, and drivers accustomed to the route from France should be aware that the speed limit may vary significantly throughout the journey.\n\nThe most notable restriction within this trial is on the stretch between Castelldans and Les Borges Blanques in Lleida, where dense fog can severely limit visibility. Under the most extreme conditions, the speed limit can drop to 40km/h, and traffic may be restricted to a single lane. This reduction is crucial for safety, as a vehicle traveling at motorway speeds covers a significant distance in just a few seconds, leaving drivers less time to react to unexpected obstacles.\n\nThe trial is not intended to replace the 120km/h national speed limit, but rather to test whether variable speed limits can effectively adapt to road conditions before potentially being applied to other areas. Foreign motorists arriving in Spain through the La Jonquera border area should be particularly attentive to the electronic signs, as they will encounter multiple speed limits along the AP-7.",
  "summary": "Rides running on the most frequented highways in Spain may no longer feel certain that a 120km/h speed limit set […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}