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UncategorizedOctober 17, 20250 comments

Slovak Carriers Renew Fight to Lift Truck Overtaking Ban

The association ČESMAD Slovakia has submitted to parliament a draft amendment to the Road Traffic Act, addressing the rules for overtaking by trucks over 7.5 tonnes on motorways. The aim of the proposal is to introduce clear and safe regulations defining when truck drivers may legally perform an overtaking maneuver.

The initiative has been championed for several years by the Union of Road Hauliers of Slovakia (UNAS), which already in 2023 called for the abolition of the total overtaking ban imposed by the government of Igor Matovič. According to UNAS, the current regulations are impractical and harmful — both to traffic flow and to safety on Slovak motorways.

Under the proposal prepared jointly by UNAS and the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, overtaking would be permitted only during specific hours or on sections of road marked with appropriate traffic signs.

UNAS recalls that the first version of the bill was submitted to parliament back in 2023, but was rejected by a single vote. The decisive votes came from MP and current Minister of Economy Denisa Saková (Hlas party) and several parliamentarians from the Sme rodina party, which was then part of the governing coalition.

Now, ČESMAD Slovakia has once again submitted the amendment, emphasizing — as UNAS points out — the need to align Slovak legislation with the practices in other EU member states. In most European countries, trucks are allowed to overtake under clearly defined conditions, ensuring a balance between safety and traffic fluidity.

The organization also stresses that the Slovak transport sector is increasingly burdened by political decisions, including rising taxes, additional transaction fees, and an inefficient toll collection system. UNAS urges lawmakers to take into account both road safety and the real economic impact on carriers when drafting new transport regulations.