In today's article, we give you a useful overview of the most fundamental changes that have occurred to date in the Road Traffic Act 2020, which concern not only motor vehicle drivers but also other road users.
On 01.04.2020, an amendment to Act No. 8/2009 On Road Traffic and on amendments to certain laws (hereinafterreferredto as the "Road Traffic Act") entered into force introducing new road traffic rules.
We will begin by addressing both the first and one of the most important changes, which is the mandatory creation of a rescue aisle. For the first time, section 10(11) of the Road Traffic Act imposes a legal obligation to create an emergency lane. The driver of the vehicle shall be obliged to take such a driving operation as will enable the middle-end rescue lane to be created between two lanes and in sections with more than two lanes between the left lane and the adjacent lane. When creating a rescue lane, the driver of the vehicle shall be entitled to enter places where this is otherwise prohibited for the time strictly necessary, provided that it does not endanger another road user. Only the driver of a right-of-way vehicle or the driver of a vehicle providing for the elimination of the consequences of a road traffic accident or other emergency may use the rescue aisle. The driver of another vehicle is prohibited from using the emergency lane. Under Section 139a(13) of the Road Traffic Act, a fine of €99 is imposed if the obligation to create an emergency lane and a penalty of €300 in the event of a breach of the driving ban in the emergency lane have been breached.
No less important change is the obligation of alternating shifting (so-called zipping)not only in the case of an obstacle on the road, but after a new one already converging lanes intoone lane . A driver travelling in a continuous lane shall be obliged to allow the driver of the first vehicle in the lane to be assigned to the continuous lane to be reassigned to the continuous lane if the driver gives a sign of a change of direction and at the same time he must not endanger the driver driving in the continuous lane.
The prohibition on using a mobile phone is tightened by that amendment by prohibiting it from being held in the hand and, in addition to a mobile phone, this rule applies to other telecommunications, audiovisual or similar devices (e.g. car versioning), with the exception of handsfree.
Article 37 provides that only drivers of motor vehicles with a maximum design speed of at least 60 km/h may use the road for motor vehicles. Other road users are prohibited from using the road for motor vehicles. In practice, this means that if the scooter has a top design speed of less than 60 km/h (e.g. 55km/h) per journey, it must not.
An important change is also the explicit inclusion of a person moving on a scooter with an auxiliary motor among the driver of a non-motorised vehicle (as well as a person on a bicycle with an auxiliary motor or a person on a self-balancing vehicle – a segway). In practice, for example, this means that these people can only drive at walking speed on the pavement and must not endanger pedestrians.
Other changes include changing the age limit for the granting of Type C and CE driving licences from the original 21 years to 18 years. The age limit for the granting of a type D and DE driving licence is also changed from the original 24 years to 21 years. This applies to members of the armed forces, members of the armed security forces, armed forces, military police, military intelligence or members of the fire and rescue service.
An analysis of the road accident shows that approximately one in five road accidents in which a participant is killed is caused by a driver with driving experience of up to two years. A new measure in the form of a rehabilitation programme for novice drivers is therefore introduced.
As recent but equally important changes, we mention changes concerning cyclists. For example, the obligation to wear a helmet outside the municipality for persons over 15 years of age is deleted, as well as the obligation to wear reflective elements. The new amendment extends the ban on stopping and standing not only on the path for cyclists, but also on the protective lane for cyclists.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Resources:
https://www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2019/393/
https://www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2020/29/20200901
https://www.nrsr.sk/web/Dynamic/DocumentPreview.aspx?DocID=469504
https://www.minv.sk/?tlacove-spravy&sprava=pozrite-si-prehlad-zmien-v-novelizovanom-zakone-o-cestnej-premavke-od-1-decembra
