Slovakia shortens truck driving bans, but the overtaking ban remains

Slovakia will shorten the periods during which truck driving bans apply. Carriers will gain additional hours to complete their routes, but one of the industry’s key demands has not been met, as the ban on trucks overtaking on motorways will remain unchanged.

On 2 June, the Slovak parliament adopted amendments to the Road Traffic Act. According to information provided by the carriers’ organisation ČESMAD Slovakia, the periods during which driving bans for heavy goods vehicles apply will be shortened. At the same time, the ban on trucks overtaking on motorways will be maintained. Most of the new regulations are expected to enter into force in September 2026. The adoption of the law was confirmed by the Slovak parliament and the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic.

According to ČESMAD Slovakia, one of the most important changes for the transport industry will be the postponement of the start of summer Saturday driving bans from 07:00 to 09:00. The rules for restrictions on Sundays and public holidays are also expected to change. According to the carriers’ organisation, the bans will start at 06:00 instead of midnight, which would give operators an additional six hours to carry out transport operations.

Another facilitation is to be an automatic exemption from driving bans for drivers returning to their place of residence in Slovakia during holiday periods. Until now, this required individual permission.

However, one of the industry’s main demands has not been met. Parliament did not approve the abolition of the general overtaking ban for heavy goods vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of over 7.5 tonnes on motorways. This means that the restrictions currently in force will remain unchanged.

The new regulations also include a number of provisions not directly related to heavy transport. Among other things, U-turns at intersections with traffic lights will be allowed, penalties for significant speeding offences will be tightened, and rules concerning pedestrians and users of electric scooters will be changed.

The detailed wording of the provisions concerning driving bans will be verifiable once the full text of the law is published. However, it is already clear that Slovak carriers can count on a partial easing of restrictions, which the industry has been seeking for a long time.