Austria: Salzburg is increasingly restricting truck transit on regional roads

The Salzburg authorities are consistently restricting truck transit on regional roads by relying on local bans covering selected road sections. Although official data shows a decline in heavy vehicle traffic, for carriers it remains crucial to prove that a journey is local or destination-related.

The federal state of Salzburg is increasingly limiting transit truck traffic on regional roads. According to road administration data, between 2014 and 2024 the volume of truck traffic on category B and L roads declined, with the drop reaching around 10 percent in the Flachgau and Lungau regions. The regional authorities indicate that this is the result of transit bans for heavy goods vehicles introduced in recent years. The restrictions apply, among others, to the B95 Turracher Straße, B96 Murtal Straße, B99 Katschberg Straße, B156 Lamprechtshausener Straße and L101 Mattseer Landesstraße, which had been used by drivers as alternatives to motorways. These routes are now subject to transit bans, with an exception for local transport.

This system is not based on one general regulation for the entire region. The bans are introduced locally, both by regional authorities and district administrations, on the basis of § 43 of the Austrian Road Traffic Act (StVO). In practice, this means that the restrictions are section-specific and apply to particular stretches of road, often defined down to the exact kilometre. One example is the B156 Lamprechtshausener Straße, where the rules were introduced by administrative decision for a specific section between the municipalities of Bergheim, Anthering and Nußdorf. Such solutions show that Salzburg uses precise, local traffic management tools instead of one general ban.

Although official data indicates a decline in truck traffic, this is not equally noticeable everywhere in practice. In some municipalities, such as Unternberg in the Lungau region, local authorities point out that despite the existing restrictions, including allowing destination traffic only and a night driving ban, the volume of truck traffic has not decreased in a noticeable way. Driving on regional roads without a justified transport purpose may be considered unlawful transit, which entails the risk of penalties. It therefore remains crucial to demonstrate that the journey is destination-related, for example connected with loading or unloading in the area concerned.