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UnkategorisiertApril 20, 20260 comments

Easter 2026 full of pitfalls for drivers. New bans and exemptions – overview of changes

Easter 2026 brings significant changes to traffic regulations for heavy goods vehicles in Central Europe. The United Kingdom has launched Operation Brock, Hungary introduces night-time driving windows instead of full-day bans, Austria adds new transit and construction-related restrictions, and Slovakia allows a temporary exemption.

Hungary

Night-time driving windows instead of all-day bans.
Hungarian authorities have changed the rules regarding truck traffic bans. Instead of all-day restrictions, night-time driving windows have been introduced, allowing transport operations during the night.

Restrictions apply to vehicles over 7.5 tonnes GVW and are valid only during daytime:
❌ April 3, 2026 (Good Friday) – 06:00 – 22:00
❌ April 5, 2026 (Easter Sunday) – 06:00 – 22:00
❌ April 6, 2026 (Easter Monday) – 06:00 – 22:00

In practice, this means:
– at night (22:00 – 06:00) traffic is allowed
– the previous ban on Saturday, April 4 from 22:00 has been lifted

The change was introduced under pressure from the industry and aims to ensure continuity of deliveries during the holiday period.

Hungary changes Easter truck bans at the last minute

Austria

❌ Additional transit bans in Tyrol
Austria introduces an additional transit ban depending on the direction of travel:
➡️ Direction Germany
◾ April 3, 2026 – 00:00 – 22:00
The ban applies on motorways A12 Inntal and A13 Brenner for transport heading to Germany or countries reached via Germany.

➡️ Direction Italy
◾ April 4, 2026 – 11:00 – 15:00
Restrictions apply on motorways A12 Inntal and A13 Brenner for transport heading to Italy or countries reached via Italy.

Austria introduces new truck bans on transit routes

❌ Additional ban related to the Lueg Bridge renovation
Additionally, restrictions apply due to the renovation of the Lueg Bridge on motorways A12, A13 and A14:
◾ April 3, 2026 (07:00 – 22:00) on the Nößlach – Brenner Nord section towards the Italian border
◾ April 4, 2026 (07:00 – 15:00) on the Brenner Nord – Nößlach section towards Innsbruck

Tyrol expands truck bans on A12, A13 and A14 – new dates

Slovakia

The Slovak Police introduced a general exemption from the holiday traffic ban on April 3, 2026 (Good Friday) from 00:00 – 06:00 for trucks travelling on motorways, expressways, first-class roads and international routes, provided they enter Slovakia from a neighbouring country and reach a destination within Slovakia (transport base, unloading point). During this time, drivers can perform transport despite the standard ban. Other holiday days (April 5 – 6) remain subject to standard restrictions. At the same time, the police reserve the right to intervene to ensure safety or traffic flow.

Slovakia: exemption from truck driving ban during Easter week

United Kingdom

Due to the upcoming Easter holiday period in the United Kingdom, road authorities are implementing the Operation Brock traffic management procedure on the M20 motorway. The measures aim to reduce disruptions and maintain traffic flow near ports handling crossings of the English Channel, where an increase in travellers is expected. The implementation of the contraflow system, involving redirecting traffic onto the opposite carriageway, will cover the section between junctions 8 (Maidstone) and 9 (Ashford). This solution is used in situations of increased traffic or disruptions in ferry crossings and the Channel Tunnel.

Operation Brock on M20 – changes for trucks heading to Dover and the Eurotunnel