HGV driving bans

Driving ban at night

There is also a general ban on driving heavy goods vehicles with a maximum gross vehicle weight of over 7.5 tonnes between 10.00 p.m. and 5.00 a.m. on any day of the week. There are exceptions to this driving ban, for example for journeys made by low-noise heavy goods vehicles carrying confirmation of low-noise status. However, such vehicles may be driven no faster than 60 km/h during this period.

Driving ban at weekends an on official holidays

The following vehicles may not be driven on Saturdays between 3.00 p.m. and midnight, or on Sundays and official holidays between midnight and 10.00 p.m.:

• HGVs with trailers, if the HGV or the trailer has a maximum gross vehicle weight of over 3.5 tonnes

• HGVs, articulated lorries and self-propelled machinery with a maximum gross vehicle weight of over 7.5 tonnes

There are many exceptions to these driving bans, especially with respect to local deliveries.

In addition to these vehicle bans, which always apply, additional bans may be introduced at other times, for example during peak holiday travel periods.

Lebal bases

• section 42 of the Straßenverkehrsordnung (StVO)
• section 8b par. 4 Kraftfahrgesetz-Durchführungsverordnung (KDV)

Heavy goods vehicles with a maximum gross vehicle weight of over 7.5 tonnes may not use the far-left lane on sections of motorway with three or more lanes.

This ban does not apply in situations where this lane must be used in order to follow a particular route.

Legal basis

Section 46 of the Straßenverkehrsordnung (StVO)

If the limits of certain air pollutant values are exceeded (exceeding of the maximum number of days with high levels of fine particulate matter) state governors must take measures to improve air quality. For this reason, HGV driving bans have been imposed in certain areas in several federal states.

Depending on the rules imposed, HGV driving bans may concern heavy goods vehicles or articulated lorries of various emissions classes (e.g. EURO-0, EURO-I, EURO-II). In accordance with the relevant provisions in federal state law, the driving ban will either apply to

• vehicles in all weight classes, or
• only to vehicles in certain weight classes (e.g. above 7.5 tonnes maximum gross vehicle weight).

Certain heavy-duty vehicles that are not actually affected by a driving ban due to their classification in an emissions class may only drive in the driving ban area (due to fine particle emissions) if they have an emission sticker. This is based on different regulations in the individual federal states. These stickers can be obtained from garages and motorists’ associations, for example. They can be applied during the vehicle’s section 57a inspection (→ oesterreich.gv.at).

Legal basis

Immissionsschutzgesetz-Luft (IG-L)