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New year, new traffic rules; This is true not only in Switzerland, but also in many of our neighboring and holiday countries in Europe. The next time we go abroad with our own car or a rental car, it would be annoying not to be able to get up-to-date information. We are less concerned with some changes abroad, such as new driving license rules or higher vehicle taxes. But the Swiss are also affected when it comes to new regulations on parking and express buses, winter tires or e-scooters and e-bikes.
It’s a shame if you have to dig deep into your pocket for fines due to ignorance. In some cases, previously imposed fines will be fivefold, especially given that some countries in Europe will impose very large increases in 2024. Blick keeps you informed about current developments.
Belgium
No major changes this year, but next: After 20 years of debate, the Belgian State Council has approved a completely new version of road traffic regulations. The text will be transmitted and enter into force in the spring. January 1, 2025. The most important change: Cars are no longer the preferred means of transportation; pedestrians, cyclists and scooter drivers gained more rights.
Germany
Swiss authorities are collecting fines from Germany if Swiss women do not pay the fine. Just as the holiday season is approaching, all caravans between 3.5 and 7.5 tons are eligible From July 1 As a truck, we have to collect a toll and pay it later. It’s not worth ignoring; toll cameras can detect them.
From 1 October Only tires bearing the Alpine symbol (snowflake and mountain silhouette) are considered suitable for winter. Tires marked M+S, which many Swiss use all year round to save money, can no longer be used in winter road conditions.
Legal regulation studies regarding the use of camera systems called mobile phone speed cameras, that is, camera systems that detect the use of mobile phones while driving, are still ongoing. It’s not a new traffic rule, but it’s annoying: the increase in the CO₂ tax increases fuel prices in Germany by around four euro cents per liter.
France
France is relaxing after this Low speed fines – but only for residents: If you drive too fast, under five kilometers per hour, no points will be deducted from your traffic credit account. Unlike Germany, where penalty points are counted, France has a Plus account where points are deducted for each offense until your ID is cancelled. Foreigners still have to pay for small speed limits of up to 5 km/h: 68 euros in urban areas and 135 euros outside cities.
From January Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Rouen and Strasbourg, among others, introduce perimeter zones where vehicles belonging to certain classes of polluters can be banned from entering. It only bothers the French that the additional weight penalty of ten euros per kilogram when buying a new car applies to vehicle weights of 1.6 tonnes or more.
Italy
The Italian government wants to reduce the number of accidental deaths and accidents caused by distraction caused by smartphones, for example, and is therefore increasing the numbers From January 1 The penalties are very severe. Mobile phone use, drink driving, illegal parking and speeding violations are becoming increasingly expensive: Holding a smartphone while driving now costs 422 to 1,697 euros (previously 165 to 660 euros); There is also the risk of being banned from driving for up to two months. For the second violation within two years, the penalty increases to 2 thousand 588 euros.
Anyone caught with more than 0.5 per thousand of alcohol in their blood risks having their driver’s license revoked for three years. The penalty is then imposed at 0.0 per thousand and the car must be fitted with an alcohol ignition interlock that allows the engine to be started only when sober. There is now an absolute ban on alcohol for novice drivers under 21 years of age. In addition, novice drivers are no longer allowed to drive a car with an absolute weight of more than 95 hp (70 kW) or 75 hp (55 kW) per ton for three years.
Be careful when driving into the city: illegal parking in disabled spaces now costs up to 990 euros. Helmets are now mandatory on e-scooters. E-bikes are only allowed to travel at a maximum speed of 30 km/h and the motor power cannot exceed 250 watts; so be careful when taking a Swiss 45km/h e-bike on holiday. Bicycles can only be passed if a minimum distance of 150 centimeters can be maintained.
And as in Formula 1, there is now a so-called safety car at accidents or construction sites, that is, a police car that limits the maximum speed allowed in a section and slows down traffic.
Austria
Many Swiss will be happy: there is something new From January digital daily vignette for 8.60 euros; A 10-day vignette for Austrian motorways now costs 11.50 euros.
First on March 1 The highest level of the package of measures against speeding offenses will come into force – and for foreigners too! Anyone caught driving at 60 km/h in the city or 70 km/h outside the city will have their driver’s license immediately confiscated and the vehicle confiscated. Within two weeks, the relevant regional administration will decide whether to return the vehicle or, as Austrian officials say, “win it”, that is, permanently confiscate it and then put it up for auction.
The decision depends on the severity of the violation: If the speed limit is below 79 km/h in urban areas or 89 km/h outside urban areas, it is only necessary to surrender their vehicle permanently for repeated violations. Anyone driving 80 km/h in the city or 90 km/h outside the city will definitely lose their car. An additional fine always has to be paid.
70 percent of the proceeds from the vehicle auction will go to the Austrian Road Safety Fund, and the rest will go to the municipality in the area where the speeder was caught.
Spain
Important if you are traveling here with your own car: Every municipality with a population over 50,000, From January Establish an environmental zone that regulates the entry of vehicles with different categories of pollutants. Depending on the level of pollution, municipalities may impose driving bans for individual categories of vehicles. There are five categories; Vehicles in the four cleanest categories are required to carry a sticker. Gasoline engines before 2000 and diesel engines before 2006 do not carry labels.
Important for rental cars: From January 2026, Spain will need to replace the warning triangle with the V-16 warning light. This can now be used as an alternative to the warning triangle. It is placed on the faulty or accident vehicle and warns with a light signal. It also sends a location via mobile phone to the Spanish Ministry of Transport’s digital platform, which then alerts other road users via the navigation system or smartphone.
From January 22 New rules apply when using e-scooters. The purpose of the certification is to ensure that only legally compliant scooters hit the road. The highway toll increase planned for 2024 has been postponed.
Czech Republic
since January A new catalog of fines is being implemented in the Czech Republic, which in some cases means a five-fold increase. The Czech penalty point system only applies to Czechs, but foreigners also pay fines. Overtaking in an area where jaywalking or overtaking is prohibited now costs 1,040 euros (previously 210 euros). Going very fast up to 10 kilometers per hour in urban areas cost 200 euros (previously 100), while going very fast up to 50 km/h outside cities cost 1,040 euros (previously 415). The cost of having a phone in your hand while driving is 415 euros, while the cost of driving without a license or refusing a breathalyzer test is 3,100 euros.
On three motorway sections you can now drive at 150km/h instead of just 130km/h – but not as soon as new digital speedometers are fitted there.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
