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Since the start of the corona pandemic, travel regulations have been constantly changing. Below are some changes that are already foreseeable in 2022 that will affect travelers. “For example, there are speed limits for e-trekkers in Italy, a permanent winter tire requirement in some regions of France, and changes to tolls and vignettes in Slovenia and Poland, as well as stricter environmental zones in Spain and Belgium. And in Germany, it is planned to make masks compulsory to carry,” says ÖAMTC tourism expert Maria Renner.
The most important changes in 2022
Italy. There have already been speed limits for e-trekkers in Italy since November 2021. “A maximum of 6 km/h may be driven in pedestrian zones, and a maximum of 20 km/h in general. Furthermore, there is a parking ban on the sidewalk,” Renner explains. Also since November, our neighboring country has also introduced the possibility of “pink parking spaces” for pregnant women and parents with children up to two years of age. Anyone who misuses one of these parking spaces without permission must pay an administrative fine of up to 660 euros. The range of penalties for unauthorized use of parking spaces for the disabled has also been increased to between 168 euros and 672 euros.
Slovenia. In Slovenia, the changeover from adhesive to e-vignettes will take place in two steps: as of December 1, 2021, the annual vignettes of classes 1 (e.g., motorcycle), 2A (e.g., passenger car), 2B (vehicles with a front axle height of more than 1.3 meters) and the half-yearly vignette of class 1 will only be available digitally. From February 1, 2022, the monthly and seven-day toll stickers will also only be available in digital form. In addition, the annual vignettes will only be valid for twelve months (e.g., December 20, 2021 to December 20, 2022 inclusive), but you can buy them whenever you want. Another innovation is that all digital vignettes can be postdated by up to 30 days.
Germany. In Germany, starting in 2022, car, truck and bus drivers will also be required to carry two mouth-to-nose coverings in their first-aid kits. A date has not yet been set, but the amendment to the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations is planned for 2022.
France. It has already been decided that winter tires will be compulsory in France between November 1 and March 31 of the following year for mountain regions in the Alps, Pyrenees and Vosges, in the Massif Jura and Massif Central, and on Corsica. The exact zone within a department is determined by the respective authority and may change annually. A current general map is available at www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr. The beginning and end of the zones are indicated by special signage. Within these zones, winter tires (M+S marking, minimum tread depth 3.5 mm) must be used on all four wheels during the specified period. Alternatively, snow chains may be carried and mounted during winter road conditions. Additionally, in other departments, the use of winter tires may be required at short notice by signage in appropriate weather conditions.
Spain. In Spain, the entire urban area of Madrid will be declared an environmental zone (Zona de Bajas Emisiones, ZBE) as of January 2022 as part of the “Madrid 360” project. The Spanish low emission zones apply around the clock all year round. Vehicles registered in Spain need an environmental badge (Distintivo Ambiental) to enter. “For vehicles registered abroad, proof of the required emission standard by means of a registration certificate is sufficient,” says the ÖAMTC tour guide.
Poland. In Poland, a new e-Toll system was already introduced on state-administered highways (A2, A4) on December 1, 2021, to collect tolls. Since then, tolls on these highways have been paid using an e-Toll app or by purchasing an e-ticket.
Belgium. In Belgium, driving diesel vehicles with Euro 4 emissions standards will be banned in the environmental zones of Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp from 2022 and will therefore no longer be possible free of charge. For such vehicles and others that are no longer allowed to drive in the low emission zone on a regular basis, there is the option of buying a day pass for entry at 35 euros (a maximum of eight times per year).
New EU Package Travel Directive
In 2022, the EU Package Travel Directive will also be evaluated and likely republished toward the end of the year. “The Covid 19 pandemic, numerous resulting insolvencies, and travelers waiting in vain for reimbursement of their monies make a modified package travel law necessary,” says ÖAMTC lawyer Martin Hoffer.
- source: kleinezeitung.at/picture: Image by Dariusz Sankowski from Pixabay
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