Besides the regular holiday traffic bans in many countries, several regions of Europe will also implement festive traffic bans in July and August. In addition to the Catholic holiday in August, which in many countries involves a day off, hauliers will also have to halt their operations during several public holidays.
Restrictions in July
Czechs, Slovaks, and French celebrate public holidays in July. The relevant dates are:
5 July (Feast of the Slavic Apostles Cyril and Methodius)
- Czech Republic: From 13:00 to 22:00. The restriction applies to lorries and vehicle combinations with a gross vehicle weight of more than 7.5 tonnes.
- Slovakia: From 00:00 to 22:00. The ban applies to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of over 7.5 tonnes. The Presidium of the Slovak Police has introduced an exception for trucks on motorways, motor vehicle roads, 1st class roads, and for international traffic entering the country from certain neighbouring countries, whose destination (e.g. company headquarters or place of unloading) is on Slovak territory. Transit journeys are not exempt from the ban.
6 July (Day of the Burning of Master Jan Hus)
- Czech Republic: From 07:00 to 22:00.
13 July
- France: From 22:00 to 24:00. The traffic ban applies to lorries and vehicle combinations over 7.5 tonnes.
14 July (French National Holiday)
- France: From 00:00 to 22:00.
Restrictions in August
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated in August in the Catholic countries of Europe. However, this is not the only holiday. August holiday restrictions will also be in place for other public holidays, including in Switzerland and Croatia.
1 August
- Switzerland: From 00:00 to 24:00. The Swiss National Holiday is celebrated on this day. The bans apply to trucks with a gross vehicle weight over 3.5 tonnes.
4 August
- Croatia: From 12:00 to 23:00. The ban applies to trucks and convoys over 7.5 tonnes and trucks and semi-trailers over 14 metres in length.
5 August
- Croatia: From 14:00 to 23:00. On this date, Croatians celebrate Thanksgiving Day.
14 August
- Croatia: From 15:00 to 23:00.
- France: From 22:00 to 24:00.
- Luxembourg: From 23:30 to 24:00 towards Germany and from 21:30 to 24:00 towards France. The ban includes vehicles over 7.5 tonnes with or without trailers.
- Poland: From 18:00 to 22:00, vehicles and combinations of vehicles with a permissible total weight exceeding 12 tonnes may not drive on the roads.
15 August
- Austria: From 00:00 to 22:00. The prohibition applies to tractors with trailers with a gross vehicle weight of the tractor or trailer exceeding 3.5 tonnes, trucks, and articulated vehicles with a weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes.
- Croatia: From 14:00 to 23:00.
- France: From 00:00 to 22:00.
- Luxembourg: From 00:00 to 21:45.
- Poland: From 08:00 to 22:00.
- Slovenia: From 08:00 to 22:00. The restriction applies to heavy goods vehicles and vehicle combinations with a gross vehicle weight of more than 7.5 tonnes.
- Italy: From 07:00 to 22:00. The ban applies to heavy goods vehicles and vehicle combinations designed for the transport of goods with a gross vehicle weight of more than 7.5 tonnes.
19 August
- Hungary: From 22:00 to 24:00.
20 August
- Hungary: From 00:00 to 22:00. Hungarians celebrate St. Stephen’s Day on this day.
29 August
- Slovakia: From 00:00 to 22:00.
Truck bans during summer holidays
In addition to holiday and weekend traffic bans during the holiday season, many European countries also apply summer traffic bans (Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy).