The DGT green light: what is it and how does it affect you as a driver?

In recent months it has come to the fore a new traffic sign from the DGT which is causing a stir among drivers and road safety experts. The sign, circular and with the characteristic green border, is surprising because it breaks with the usual signage on our roads and its meaning has generated all kinds of doubts, especially among those who have seen it in European countries.

While red-edged signs imply a clear obligation or prohibition – such as respecting a maximum speed limit – The sign with a green border is different: it does not legally impose any speed limit., but its function It is to advise on the optimal speed for driving on a specific section.This difference represents a focus more on driver responsibility than on imposing sanctions.

How to recognize the green light and what does it mean?

The new sign is circular, with a white background and green border, and displays a number inside. This number indicates the recommended speed for the section in question. Therefore, if you exceed the speed indicated on the green signal, you will not be punished: It is a recommendation based on road safety criteria and not a legal obligation.

Your goal is enhance safe driving in particularly sensitive areas, such as school zones, residential areas, stretches with sharp curves or reduced visibility, among others. It's about adapting to the new challenges of mobility and the needs that arise with the evolution of vehicles and urban traffic.

Although the sign with a green border It is not yet officially listed in the Spanish catalogue, but its use has already been validated in countries such as France., where it has been implemented on certain urban roads to encourage more relaxed driving without resorting to punishment or outright fines.

Hierarchy and coexistence with other signs

It is important to know the hierarchy between signals to avoid confusion. If a circular sign with a green border coincides with one with a red border on a section, the one with the red border will always have priorityThat is, mandatory limits or prohibitions are not modified by the green signal recommendation; the recommendation never replaces a legal order.

This hierarchy corresponds to the usual structure of traffic regulations in Spain and Europe, according to which the order of priority on signs is as follows:

• Direct instructions from a traffic officer.
• Temporary signs (for example, during construction or detours).
• Traffic lights.
• Permanent vertical signs (here are the ones with a red border and the ones with a green border).
• Road markings painted on the roadway.

Therefore, if a green and a red signal appear together, you must comply with the red, which establishes the legal prohibition or obligation.

Why is this green signal appearing now?

The rise of the green signal responds to changes in mobility habits and the new needs of today's traffic. In environments where the structure of the road, the presence of pedestrians, the weather or urban characteristics make it difficult to establish general mandatory limits, Recommendations can be more effective in preventing accidents.

The DGT sees in this sign a pedagogical tool that motivates drivers to travel at safer speeds on specific sections, and that also reduces stress associated with driving by focusing on information and prevention instead of punishment.

Countries like France have shown good results with the inclusion of this signal and, if its implementation continues to be successful, could soon become part of the Spanish catalogue as a more flexible and informative alternative to road signs.

How signaling is classified and the role of the green signal

In Spanish regulations, traffic signs are divided into three main categories:

• Information : They usually indicate prohibitions, obligations and, now, recommendations if they have a green border.
• triangular: correspond to warnings of road hazards.
• Square or rectangular: aimed at providing additional information or directions.

Color also has its importance: red indicates prohibition or danger, the blue obligation or information, the yellow warns of a temporary situation As for works, brown is dedicated to information of tourist interest and white is the most neutral background for warnings or reports.

The green, In the case of this new signal, breaks with convention and goes on to indicate a speed recommendation, not an obligation. It should be distinguished from green highway signs indicating exits or directions, as they do not serve the same purpose.

Where and when will you see the green signal?

For now, The green signal has not yet been officially implemented on Spanish roads.However, the DGT is considering its possible incorporation in the medium term, as part of the process of modernizing the sign catalog and adapting it to new forms of urban and rural mobility. In countries like France and other European countries, you've probably already encountered it in some urban or residential areas, especially where speed limits are sought without resorting to legal enforcement.

The decision to incorporate the green signal seeks to promote a more conscious driving, adapted to the environment, and reduce accidents at hotspots without increasing the pressure on drivers to impose penalties.

So, if you're one of those who takes advantage of the opportunity to cross the border or travel outside of Spain, pay attention: Paying attention to the green signal can help you anticipate risky situations. Now you can adjust your speed without incurring a fine if you exceed the recommended speed limit. This is a middle ground between obligation and personal decision, relying on shared responsibility between the driver and traffic authorities.