Soon you’ll “need” This App to drive between France and Spain – Here’s why

You may have to change your route if you frequently use the AP-7 between France and Spain. The Catalan Traffic Service is a new service.Servei Català de Trànsit, SCT) has just announced that a brand-new app is being developed – and while it won’t technically be mandatory, they say downloading it will soon be ‘necessary’ if you want to drive that route without headaches.

What is the reason? The AP-7 is one of Spain’s most busy roads. Over the past few months, there has been a significant increase in accidents. Many involved lorries. The new app aims to keep drivers safer and better informed – and hopefully prevent the kind of massive tailbacks that have recently paralysed the motorway.

Receive real-time alerts on your phone

This is not just another navigational tool. SCT’s app sends real-time voice messages to your phone, based on where you are. This is unlike Google Maps or Waze. The app will alert drivers to an accident, road closing, or other emergency situation such as flooding. This allows them to change their route, or slow down, in time.

Ramon Lamiel – the director of SCT – explained in a recent interview. El Periódico The idea was born after failed talks with navigation companies.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Google Maps, and we also met with Waze in order to add virtual signs that broadcast official voice messages regarding motorway closures. Unfortunately, the project was not completed. We’re creating our own app to serve as a system of alerts on the AP-7,” he explained.

For the moment, the new system is only available on the AP-7 motorway, which connects the French border to Barcelona. The accident rate has been increasing significantly.

Born of Chaos on AP-7

You only need to consider what has happened in the past few weeks to understand why this application is taken so seriously. On November 8, an accident involving a large lorry closed the motorway southbound towards Barcelona. The section between L’Ametlla de Mar to L’Ampolla had been closed for 30 hours.

Unaware of the impending closure, thousands of drivers returning home from the weekend were stuck in long queues. Local media reported that many drivers were unaware of the closure and spent hours in traffic.

The SCT says that this was the point when it became apparent that something had to be done.

The aim of the new app is simple: to ensure that drivers are alerted instantly when something goes awry. The motorway will no longer be blocked 10 kilometers ahead if you rely on radio, social media or word of mouth. You will receive an alert on your phone that allows you to avoid the area or take the next available exit.

Not Mandatory  but hard to drive without

Lamiel insists the app won’t be ‘mandatory’ in the legal sense, but admits it will become essential for anyone who wants to travel calmly along the AP-7.

It’s one of the major routes that connect France and Spain. It is especially busy on weekends and holidays, when it’s a mixture of commuters, tourists and long-haul truck drivers.

Lamiel: “We are convinced that drivers will download this app if they learn it provides voice alerts for driving.

The launch of the app is targeted not just to local drivers but also international ones, particularly those who cross the border. SCT intends to make it multilingual and accessible for tourists who may not be able to understand Catalan road signs or Spanish.

Arriving by the end of 2026

The SCT anticipates that development of the app will begin in January of 2026 with a goal to release it to the public before December of the same.

It will initially cover the AP-7 but if this version proves to be effective, then it may expand later to include other major Catalan routes.

The project is described for now as a safety partner, and not a replacement navigation system. It won’t replace Google Maps, but rather complement it – focusing solely on official traffic alerts from the Catalan authorities, delivered instantly to your phone as you drive.

Lamiel believes that people will quickly download the app once they realize how valuable it is. He said: “We want drivers who use the app to be at peace.”

Driving into a safer (and smarter) future

The AP-7 has long been a source of frustration for drivers – from massive summer tailbacks to frequent lorry crashes. SCT’s new app hopes to bring some order into the chaos, by allowing drivers to receive real-time updates directly from road authorities.

It’s an idea that could yield huge results. Fewer surprises, faster reaction times, and safer trips between France, Spain,

So, while it won’t be a legal requirement, one thing’s clear – by late 2026, driving the AP-7 without the app might feel like flying blind.