0
0
Austria’s road users will soon face noticeable changes. The government is pushing forward a comprehensive reform of the country’s Road Traffic Act (StVO), introducing stricter rules for e‑scooters, updated regulations for e‑mopeds, and clearer data‑protection standards. The revised law is expected to take effect in May.
Infrastructure Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ) calls the reform a “milestone for transport in Austria.” E‑scooter riders will feel the impact most: carrying additional passengers or transporting objects will be banned, and the legal alcohol limit will drop from 0.8 to 0.5 per mille. Helmets will become mandatory for anyone under 16, and scooters must be equipped with indicators and a bell.
Helmet requirements for e‑bikes will also expand, though only for children and teenagers up to age 14. Much more significant changes are planned for e‑mopeds: starting in October, they will be moved from bicycle regulations into the motor vehicle category. As a result, they will no longer be allowed on bike paths and will require registration, insurance, a driving licence, and a protective helmet.
Alongside the StVO reform, the government has submitted a new law on intelligent transport systems to the National Council. Navigation services will be required to display official road restrictions—such as exit bans for transit traffic—to prevent drivers from diverting through towns. By 2030, real‑time data on the occupancy of buses and trains should also be available.
Following criticism from data‑protection experts, the rules for video‑based traffic‑calming systems have been revised as well. Police will no longer be allowed to use footage from cameras installed at access points to city centres. In addition, each camera setup will require its own data‑protection impact assessment.
- Hector Pascua with reports from heute.at/picture: Image by Patrick Amiri from Pixabay
This post has already been read 150 times!
