In the peak weeks of the holiday season, the limits affect major European transit corridors as well as routes leading to popular tourist regions. Some countries apply bans throughout the summer period, while others restrict traffic only on specific days or on selected road sections.
Poland: seasonal bans from late June to late August
In Poland, the summer rules apply to vehicles and vehicle combinations with a permissible gross weight above 12 tonnes.
The restrictions apply from Friday, 26 June to Sunday, 30 August 2026:
- Fridays from 18:00 to 22:00
- Saturdays from 08:00 to 14:00
- Sundays from 08:00 to 22:00
Exemptions include, among others, the transport of perishable goods, medicines, medical supplies, fuels and live animals. Vehicles used for rescue and humanitarian operations, breakdown response or disaster relief are also excluded, as are buses.
Poland’s road transport inspectorate notes that the bans do not apply to vehicles returning from abroad to complete a transport operation or deliver to a consignee based in Poland. The same applies to trucks within 50 kilometres of the border after entering Poland outside the restricted hours, and to vehicles waiting to leave Poland.
Breaches can result in a driver fine of 200 to 500 złotych. The carrier may face a penalty of 2,000 złotych, with an additional 1,000 złotych for the transport manager.
Austria steps up controls on key routes
Austria is also introducing seasonal measures. From 2 June, a driving ban has applied to trucks over 7.5 tonnes on the A12 and A13 motorways across the Brenner corridor. The restriction covers transit towards Italy and journeys to destinations for which the shortest route runs through Austria.
In addition, from Saturday, 4 July to Saturday, 29 August, bans will apply every Saturday from 08:00 to 15:00 on diversion routes in Tyrol, including B178, B179, B181 and B182.
These roads are often used to bypass the main transit corridors, which may translate into longer journey times and revised transport plans.
Further disruption is expected on the A4 motorway towards Hungary. From Saturday, 4 July to Saturday, 5 September, every Saturday between 08:00 and 15:00, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes will be restricted on the section between Schwechat and the Nickelsdorf border crossing.
Germany: summer limits on major motorways
Germany’s holiday driving bans will apply from 1 July to 31 August. Every Saturday, between 07:00 and 20:00, the restrictions cover trucks over 7.5 tonnes as well as trucks with trailers carrying goods commercially.
The bans cover numerous key motorway sections, including A1, A2, A3, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A45 and A61, as well as a range of federal roads used in international transport.
Violations can result in fines of €25 to €150 for drivers and vehicle owners.
Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary also tighten summer traffic
In Czechia, summer bans will also run from 1 July to 31 August. They apply to trucks and combinations over 7.5 tonnes travelling on motorways, expressways and first-class roads.
The restrictions apply:
- Fridays from 17:00 to 21:00
- Saturdays from 07:00 to 13:00
- Sundays and public holidays from 13:00 to 22:00
In Slovakia, from 1 July to 31 August, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes are not allowed to drive on Saturdays between 07:00 and 19:00.
Hungary will apply restrictions throughout July and August across numerous motorways and national roads. The bans run from Saturday 15:00 until Sunday 22:00, and also during public holiday periods.
France and Italy add extra summer restrictions
Under a decree setting additional limits for 2026, France is introducing extra summer restrictions for trucks and vehicle combinations with a permissible gross weight above 7.5 tonnes (excluding specialist and agricultural vehicles). The nationwide ban will apply on Saturdays 11, 18 and 25 July, and 1 and 8 August 2026, from 07:00 to 19:00.
The ban does not apply, among others, to:
- transport of live animals, perishable goods and agricultural products (at least half of the load)
- transport of equipment for shows, fireworks and press media for the same day or the following day
- moving offices and factories within the same city or region
- medical transport, medical gases, hospital waste or radiographic equipment
Italy has prepared a more extensive schedule. Alongside the standard Sunday ban from 07:00 to 22:00, additional restrictions apply on multiple Saturdays and selected Fridays in July and August.
Italy’s summer driving-ban timetable for trucks over 7.5 tonnes:
July
4 July (Saturday) from 08:00 to 16:00,
11 July (Saturday) from 08:00 to 16:00,
18 July (Saturday) from 08:00 to 16:00,
24 July (Friday) from 16:00 to 22:00,
25 July (Saturday) from 08:00 to 16:00,
31 July (Friday) from 16:00 to 22:00.
August
1 August (Saturday) from 08:00 to 22:00,
7 August (Friday) from 16:00 to 22:00,
8 August (Saturday) from 08:00 to 22:00,
14 August (Friday) from 16:00 to 22:00,
15 August (Saturday, public holiday) from 07:00 to 22:00,
22 August (Saturday) from 08:00 to 16:00,
29 August (Saturday) from 08:00 to 16:00.
Restrictions also in Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia
In Bulgaria, holiday bans have been in force since 1 June and will continue until 15 September. They apply to vehicles over 12 tonnes on selected routes on Fridays and Sundays.
Romania is adding restrictions from 1 July to 31 August on the A2 motorway between Bucharest and Constanța, as well as on national road DN39 towards the Black Sea coast.
In Slovenia, in addition to the year-round Sunday ban from 08:00 to 22:00, extra limits will apply from late June to early September on Saturdays from 08:00 to 13:00.
