by Road hauliers can apply for an exemption from the driving ban in France
June 6 marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
In view of the planned celebrations, the authorities of the Calvados department have decided to set up a Regulated Traffic Zone (zone de circulation régulée – ZCR), which will extend to the north and west of Caen, from the RN13 to the sea.
The zone will only be activated on 6 June, from 6am until 8pm.
Vehicles that have to enter the zone can only do that if they have a special sticker. You can apply for a ZCR sticker by e-mail by sending your request to: [email protected]
An application for a derogation from the driving ban for vehicles with a GVW of more than 7.5 tonnes
A map of the Regulated Traffic Zone (ZCR) and information about ZCR stickers
by Austria: spring HGV driving bans on the A10
Based on forecasts of traffic intensity, the Austrian Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology has decided to introduce a driving ban for transit HGV traffic during three weekends following Pentecost until the beginning of June and during one weekend in June (June 21 and 22).
The ban applies to vehicles, articulated vehicles or veciles with trailers, whose GVW exceeds 7.5 t travelling along the A10 motorway
❌ on Fridays from May 17 to May 31 and on Friday, June 21, from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
❌ on Saturdays from May 18 to June 1 and on Saturday, June 22, from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
1. on the southbound carriageway in the direction of Villach between the Salzburg intersection (where the A10 branches off the A1) and the Pongau intersection, if the destination of the journey is in Italy or Slovenia or has to be reached via Italy or Slovenia and
2. on the northbound carriageway in the direction of Salzburg, between the Rennweg junction and the Golling junction, if the destination of the journey is located in Germany or the Czech Republic, or has to be reached via Germany or the Czech Republic.
by Hungary: an advance notice about a change in the HGV driving ban
In response to a request from the Association of Hungarian Road Transporters (MKFE), the Ministry of Transport has partially suspended the HGV driving ban during the upcoming long weekend (Pentacost) by establishing a ‘time window’ when the movement of HGVs with a MAM above 7.5t is allowed
As a result, the HGV driving will not start at 10:00 PM on Saturday, May 18, as would normally be the case, but at 6:00 on Whit Sunday, May 19 and will last until 10:00 PM, when the second time window will start until 6:00 AM on Whit Monday. The HGV ban will then be in effect all day until 10:00 PM.
In other words, the HGV driving ban applies on:
⏩ May 19 (Whit Sunday) from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM,
⏩ May 20 (Whit Monday) from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM,
Thanks to the relaxation HGV drivers have two 8-hour night breaks in the driving ban, during which they can continue driving instead of having to wait in the parking lot from Saturday to Monday evening. More information about HGV driving bans and derogations from these bans that are in effect in different countries can be found at www.trafficban.com.
by The driving bans do not apply to all vehicles in the same way.
Each country introduces exceptions for special circumstances and particular needs of the transport industry.
Exceptions to HGV driving bans in Europe are an important way of ensuring the smooth flow of road traffic and the effective operation of various sectors of the economy. These exceptions can apply in various situations and are subject to specific conditions and regulations.
AUSTRIA
CROATIA
CZECH REPUBLIC
FRANCE
GREECE
LIECHTENSTEIN
LUXEMBOURG
GERMANY
POLAND
ROMANIA
SLOVAKIA
SLOVENIA
HUNGARY
ITALY
by France lifts one of the driving bans in May, but increases the number of summer driving bans
French authorities have lifted the driving ban on May 9 and as well as additional driving bans in the for certain HGVs with a GVW above 7.5 tons.
This means that driving bans for HGVs with a GVW above 7.5 tons introduced in the ordinance issued on April 16, 2021 do not apply on Thursday, May 9, from 00:00 to 10:00 PM.
The following additional driving bans apply in the summer to:
❌ I. vehicles or combinations of vehicles with a GVW above 7.5 tons, used for transporting goods with the exception of specialized and agricultural vehicles and equipment specified in Annex II to the ordinance issued on April 16, 2021, on the entire metropolitan road network, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, on Saturdays, July 6, July 20, July 27, August 3, August 10, August 17 and August 24.
❌ II. The driving bans listed in item I do not apply on Saturday, July 6, in the following regions:
◾ Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Grand Est, with the exception of the A6 and A31 motorways (towards Lyon and Beaune respectively), where the movement of such vehicles is prohibited;
◾ Hauts-de-France, with the exception of the A1 and A16 motorways (towards Paris), where the movement of such vehicles is prohibited because of their connections with the A29 motorway (southern connection with the A16 motorway).
❌ III. The prohibitions listed in point I do not apply on Saturday, August 24, in the following regions:
◾ Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Grand Est, with the exception of the A6 and A31 motorways (towards Paris and the border with Luxembourg respectively), where the movement of such vehicles is prohibited;
◾ Hauts-de-France, with the exception of the A1 and A16 motorways (towards Lille and towards the Belgian border respectively), where the movement of such vehicles is prohibited as far as their junctions with the A29 motorway (southern connection with the A16).
by Closure of the Arlberg tunnel – diversions for HGV traffic
The second renovation of the Arlberg Tunnel on the S16 expressway starts on April 15 and is scheduled to last until November 22. In addition, ASFINAG is renewing the St. Jakob toll booth and the entire toll area. As a result, HGV traffic must use diversion routes with the exception of vehicles that are eligible for exemptions.
❌ Alternative routes
As soon as the tunnel is closed, the B197/L197 road throught the Arlberg Pass will serve as the regional diversion route. Traffic congestion and delays are expected along this route, especially on weekends, which is why drivers are advised to allow addtional time for the journey or tuse one of the alternative routes listed below.
❌ The alternative routes during the closure of the Arlberg Tunnel:
◾ the B 197/L 197 road
◾ the route via Rosenheim to Munich (Germany)
◾ the road through the St. Gotthard tunnel (Switzerland)
◾ the road through the San Bernardino tunnel (Switzerland)
❌ Who is allowed to use the B 197/L 197 road through the Arlberg Pass?
While the Arlberg Tunnel is closed, trailers and articulated vehicles are generally prohibited from using the B 197/L 197 road and have to use alternative routes. However, vehicles whose point of departure or destination are located in communes listed below are allowed to use the B 197/L 197 road. No special permission is required to benefit from the exemption. It should be remembered that lorries with trailers and articulated vehicles are generally prohibited from driving at weekends (from 9:00 AM on Saturdays, to 10:00 PM on Sundays).
❌ Exceptions
◾ Lorries with trailers and articulated vehicles are allowed to use the B 197/L 197 road from 10:00 PM on Sundays to 9:00 AM on Saturdays, if the journeys comply meet the following requirements:
Originating /terminating traffic: if the point of departure or the destination is located in the communes of Bludenz, Feldkirch or Landeck. This means that the place of loading or unloading is located in one of the communes listed above.
◾ Northwest-southeast traffic: if the point of departure or the destination is located in Vorarlberg, in Liechtenstein, in the districts of Lake Constance, Konstanz, Sigmaringen, Tuttlingen, Schwarzwald-Baar or Rottweil, in the cantons of St. Gallen, Thurgau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden or Glarus and in the provinces of Bolzano, Trento or Belluno. In other words, the B197/L197 road cannot be used as a transit route, for example to shorten the journey through the region.
◾ West-east traffic: if the point of departure or the destination is located in Vorarlberg, in Liechtenstein, in the districts of Lake Constance, Konstanz, Sigmaringen, Tuttlingen, Schwarzwald-Baar or Rottweil, in the cantons of St. Gallen, Thurgau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Glarus, Schwyz, Zug, Zurich or Schaffhausen, in the following municipalities/towns in the canton of Graubünden (north of the Chur-Davos line): Ardez, Calfreisen, Castiel, Chur, Conters i. P., Davos, Fanas, Felsberg, Fläsch, Fideris, Flims, Ftan, Furna, Grüsch, Guarda, Haldenstein, Igis, Jenaz, Jenins, Klosters-Serneus, Küblis, Laax, Langwies, Lavin, Lüen, Luzein, Maienfeld, Maladers , Malans, Mastrils, Pagig, Peist, Ramosch, Saas i. P., Samnaun, Says, Schiers, Scuol, Seewis i. P., Sent, St. Antönien, St. Antönien-Ascharina, St. Peter, Susch, Tamins, Tarasp, Trimmis, Trin, Tschlin, Untervaz, Valzeina or Zizers AND in the Tyrolean districts of Landeck, Imst, Innsbruck – Stadt, Innsbruck – Land or Schwaz. In other words, the B197/L197 road cannot be used as a transit route, for example to shorten the journey through the region.
by Austria: additional driving bans in 2024
By virtue of a regulation of March 28, the Federal Ministry of Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology has published a calendar of additional driving bans for 2024.
The ban applies to vehicles or articulated vehicles with a maximum gross weight exceeding 7.5 t on the following dates:
◾ March 29 from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, March 30 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and April 25 from 11:00 to 10:00 PM, on the A 12 motorway in the Inn Valley and on the A 13 motorway via the Brenner Pass if the destination is located in Italy or can only be reached via Italy;
◾ on all Saturdays from July 6 to August 31 inclusive, from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the A 12 motorway in the Inn Valley and on the A 13 motorway via the Brenner Pass, if the destination is located in Italy or can only be reached via Italy,
◾ on March 29 and October 3 from 12:00 to 10:00 PM and on all Saturdays from July 6 to August 31 from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the A 12 motorway in the Inn Valley and on the A 13 motorway through the Brenner Pass if the destination is located in Germany or can only be reached via Germany,
◾ on all Saturdays from July 6 to August 31 inclusive from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM outside built-up areas in both directions on the following roads:
a) Loferer Straße B 178 from Lofer to Wörgl;
b) Ennstalstrasse B 320 from km 4,500;
c) Seefelder Straße B 177 along its entire length;
d) Fernpass B 179 road from Nassereith to Biberwier;
e) Achensee Straße B 181 along its entire length;
f) Brenner Straße B 182 along its entire length
◾ on all Saturdays from June 29 to August 31 inclusive, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the A 4 motorway from the Schwechat junction to the state border at Nickelsdorf in both directions, with the exception of terminating and originating traffic to and from the municipalities of Neusiedl am See, Eisenstadt, Eisenstadt-Umgebung, Rust, Mattersburg, Bruck an der Leitha, Gänserndorf and Korneuburg.
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 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.