by Hungary: a last-minute change in HGV driving bans
The Hungarian Ministry of Transport has partially suspended the HGV driving ban during the upcoming long weekend by establishing so-called \”time windows\” when the movement of HGVs with a MAM above 7.5t is allowed.
The weekend driving ban will be in force for a total of 72 hours but will be suspended from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, as indicated below:
❌ March 29 (Friday) from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
❌ March 31 (Sunday) from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
❌ April 1 (Monday) from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
In a statement, the Ministry has informed that the partial derogation has been introduced to ensure an uninterrupted supply of goods and meet an increased demand. Unfortunately, the decision was announced just a few hours before the time the regular holiday driving ban should come into effect this evening.
by Tyrol: two extra days of traffic restrictions on the A13
On April 3 and 4, the flow of traffic on the A13 will be limited in order to enable a structural inspection of the Luegbrücke bridge stretching over the Wipttal valley.
The inspection is scheduled to start on April 3. Based on traffic data for 2023, this is likely to cause traffic jams on the A13 motorway. To ensure a smooth flow of southbound traffic, on Wednesday (3.04) and Thursday (4.04) from 9:00 a.m. the number of vehicles from Germany crossing the border in Kufstein/Kiefersfelden will be limited.
by Slovakia: derogation from the HGV driving ban on March 29
At the request of ČESMAD Slovakia, the Slovakian Presidium of the Police Force has granted a general exemption from the driving ban on Friday, March 29, in connection with the upcoming Easter holidays.
The derogation applies to all heavy goods vehicles traveling on motorways, roads for motor vehicles, 1st class roads and roads used by international traffic, entering Slovakia and travelling to destinations (e.g. the company’s base or the place of unloading) located in Slovakia.
Please be advised that that no exemption has been granted on Monday, April 1, which means that the driving ban is in effect as usual from 00:00 to 10:00 PM.
by Spain: a temporary derogation from drivers‘ hours in Februrary
In the face of difficulties experienced by tens of thousands of Spanish hauliers caused by protests started two weeks ago by Spanish farmers, the Ministry of Transport has decided to relax the rules regarding driving and rest times.
The protests have affected approximately 100,000 lorries, i.e. almost half of the Spanish HGV fleet. The new resolution, published on Tuesday, February 20, applies to all carriers affected by the above-mentioned protests in the period of 5-14 Februrary and 19-26 February.
By virtue of the derogation:
◾daily driving time has been extended from 9 to 10 hours,
◾weekly driving time – from 56 to 60 hours,
◾the daily rest period has been shortened from 11 to 9 hours,
◾drivers are allowed to postpone the start of the weekly rest period beyond six 24-hour periods.
The industry association FENADISMER has notified the Ministry of Transport about problems in the application of the derogation in the week from February 12 to 18, when two different rules were in force: the period covered by the resolution did not cover the days from February 15 to 18, although the revised rules apply on a weekly or daily basis and, therefore, take into account other time constraints that are in effect during the week.
by Hungary – buses and coaches in the HU-GO system from April 1
Starting from April 1, buses and coaches with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes, can be properly registered as buses in the Hungarian electronic toll collection system (HU-GO) by entering an appropriate vehicle type, as stipulated in the legislation amended at the end of February.
Lorries have been using HU-GO for over 10 years.
Coach and bus companies have to:
✔️ set up the company’s account and register coaches/buses on the hu-go.hu website
✔️ purchase or instal an on-board unit (OBU) that can (also) be used to make toll payments in Hungary. After registering, a platform of prepaid accounts will automatically be created. In this way, the company will have a contractual relationship with Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration. EASY on-board units can be purchased via the following website.
❗ VERY IMPORTANT❗ Operators of buses over 3.5 t already registered in the HU-GO electronic toll system are requested to refrain from the use of the HU-GO e-toll system for toll payments until 31 March and not to use their OBUs.
Vehicles not registered in the HU-GO system, can only travel in Hungary after purchasing a route ticket, which is only valid for one-way journey within 24 hours of the purchase date. The price of such a ticket is non-refundable.
There are two bus categories that can be selected when entering vehicle type during the registration process: M2 buses (over 3.5 tons up to 5 tons) and M3 buses (over 5 tons). The infrastructure charge included in the toll is based on the technically permissible maximum laden weight, while the second component, the external cost charge, depends on the number of axles and the environmental classification (EURO standard).
Operators of coaches/buses with a permissible total weight of up to 3.5 tonnes will still be able to pay for road use by purchasing an electronic vignette issued by the National Toll Payment Services, and starting from April 1, they will be classified as category D2 vehicles.
by Traffic jams expected on Italian, German, Austrian and Swiss motorways over Easter
During the long Easter weekend (28.03–1.04), there is a high likelihood of traffic jams, especially on German motorways. Delays can also be expected on popular holiday routes in Austria, Switzerland and Italy.
Maundy Thursday is one of the five days in the year when the volume of traffic on German roads is the highest, and big traffic jams are also very likely this Thursday. The situation on the roads is not expected to improve much on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, but the volume of traffic on motorways is likely to decline on Easter Sunday. According to ADAC, delays are likely to increase on Easter Monday and in the following days which coincide with the end of Easter holidays in the dederal states of Hamburg, Bremen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt.
Currently in Germany there are 1,130 motorway sections where roadworks are underway, which may occasionally cause traffic jams there, especially during heavy traffic.
❌ Long-term closures
◾ A27 Bremen – Bremerhaven in both directions between Uthlede and Hagen probably until the end of March;
◾ A42 Kamp-Lintfort – Dortmund in both directions between Bottrop-Süd and Kreuz Essen-Nord until April 15;
◾ A45 Hagen – Gießen in both directions between Lüdenscheid-Nord and Lüdenscheid until further notice
◾ A49 Südtangente, Gießen towards Kassel between Kassel-Waldau and the Kassel-Mitte junction until 11:59 PM on June 1,;
◾ A49 Südtangente, Gießen towards Kassel between Kreuz Kassel-West and Kassel-Auestadion until 11:59 PM on June 1,.
Traffic jam forecast for Austria and Switzerland
The volume of holiday traffic on long-distance routes is also expected in the neighboring Alpine countries as the holiday break starts in all Austrian states. Similar problems are expected in some regions of Switzerland. Routes with a high probability of traffic jams:
❌ in Austria: motorways A1, A10, A12 (Brenner Pass) and A13 (Innu Valley), B179 (Fernpass) and S16 (Arlberg Tunnel), as well as the federal roads of Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg. On the A10 motorway between Golling and Pfarrwerfen, the Ofenauer and Hiefler tunnels and the chain of Werden tunnels are being renovated.
❌ in Switzerland, delays can be expected on the route through the Gotthard Pass, on access roads to ski resorts in Graubünden, the Bernese Oberland, and Valais.
❌ in Italy, apart from the route through the Brenner Pass, the roads in the Puster Valleys, Val Gardena, Val Badia and Vinschgau.
Traffic jams are also likely on main routes to Poland and the Netherlands.
Detailed information about HGV restrictions, including a list of derogations and exemptions in specific countries can be found on www.trafficban.com.
by Tirol: 40 days with limited cross-border HGV traffic in 2024
The practice of limiting HGV traffic has been criticized on numerous occasions by international organizations, but the Tirol authorities remain adamant that the measure is necessary. The calandar of HGV restrictions for the second half of 2024 has just been published.
As in previous years, the Austrian authorities have set up a checkpoint on the A12 near Kufstein Nord in the direction of Innsbruck. On specific days listed in the restriction schedule (below), starting from 05:00 AM the police will slow down HGV traffic and, if necessary, will stop it in order to make sure that only about 300 lorries arriving from Germany are allowed to cross the border per hour.
There were 41 such days last year. This year, 24 days with restrictions have been planned in the first half of theyear, and 16 in the second half. The calendar has been established after an analysis indicating the high likelihood of heavy HGV traffic along the Inn Valley on these days.
HGV traffic restrictions in Tirol in 2024:
➡ March 28 (Thursday)
➡ April 26 (Friday)
➡ May 2 (Thursday)
➡ May 3 (Friday)
➡ May 6 (Monday)
➡ May 7 (Tuesday)
➡ May 8 (Wednesday)
➡ May 10 (Friday)
➡ May 17 (Friday)
➡ May 18 (Saturday)
➡ May 21 (Tuesday)
➡ May 22 (Wednesday)
➡ May 23 (Thursday)
➡ May 27 (Monday)
➡ May 28 (Tuesday)
➡ May 29 (Wednesday)
➡ May 31 (Friday)
➡ July 1 (Monday)
➡ July 8 (Monday)
➡ July 15 (Monday
➡ July 22 (Monday)
➡ July 29 (Monday)
➡ October 4 (Friday)
➡ October 28 (Monday)
➡ November 5 (Tuesday)
➡ November 6 (Wednesday)
➡ November 13 (Wednesday)
➡ November 20 (Wednesday)
➡ November 27 (Wednesday)
➡ December 3 (Tuesday)
➡ December 4 (Wednesday)
➡ December 10 (Tuesday)
➡ December 11 (Wednesday)
by Le Shuttle: Planned overnight service suspension on 16/17 March
As part of the maintenance schedule for 2024, an essential upgrade of engineering systems that enable the control and management of fixed equipment in the tunnels is planned overnight from Saturday, the 16th, to Sunday, the 17th of March.
The LAST freight shuttle departure on Saturday night will be:
► From Folkestone: at 23:22
► From Calais: at 23:22
The FIRST freight shuttle departure on Sunday morning will be:
► From Folkestone: at 05:52
► From Calais: at 05:52
Local times
In order to minimise the impact on businesses, additional departures have been planned as soon as LeShuttle service resumes. The timetable for this period can be viewed or downloaded from eurotunnelfreightcom ⬅
If you wish to travel on the last departure please check-in no later than 60 minutes before the planned departure time. Both Calais and Folkestone terminals will be closed during this time. Le Truck Village and LeShuttle Freight Truck Park in Calais remain open during this closure. Drivers can check parking availability in real time via the Driver Info app.
by England: closure of M25 – diversion routes
The M25 will be closed for a full weekend for the first time ever as a major project progresses to make journeys safer and reduce pollution. This will be the first of five closures between now and September 2024. Those travelling to Gatwick and Heathrow airports and Channel ports may be affected.
The Junction 10 improvement scheme will see an increase in the number of lanes to make journeys safer and improve traffic flow. It will also make it easier and safer to enter and exit the M25, provide safer entry roads for Wisley, Pyrford, Old Byfleet and RHS Wisley.
The local diversion route below will be in place which is the same for both directions:
Junction 10 – Junction 11: North bound A3 to Painshill Junction, A245 towards Woking, and then A320 to M25 Junction 11.
Junction 11 – Junction 10: A320 south towards Woking, A245 towards Byfleet and Painshill junction, Southbound A3 to Junction 10.
Taking the M25 in the other direction to avoid our closure is also an option.
The next full closure of the M25 is due to take place in April to allow for the installation of the new Clearmount bridleway bridge. Dates are subject to change.
by Finland: border crossings with Russia closed until mid-April
During the meeting on February 8, the Finnish government decided to prolong the closure of all land border crossings between Finland and Russia until April 14.
This means that it is not possible to apply for international protection at land border crossings between Finland and Russia.
It is believed that there are hundreds, and possibly thousands, of migrants in the vicinity of the Russian border waiting to continue their journey to Finland. The prolongation of the border closure is therefore necessary to protect national security and public order.