From this Tuesday onwards, drivers will have to comply with new regulations, especially in urban areas. But things also change on country roads and the freeway - speeding, for example, is threatened with higher fines and faster driving bans. An overview.
Berlin (dpa) - Motorists should be more considerate of cyclists and pedestrians - this is how the goal of the new traffic rules can be summarized.
Carsharing and electric cars should also benefit from the changed road traffic regulations. On the other hand, anyone who drives too fast, uses an escape alley without permission or hinders others must be prepared for tougher punishments. And a certain violation is also more expensive for cyclists. The new rules should apply from this Tuesday. The most important:
NEW RULES:
- From now on, it is forbidden to stop on bike protection strips - painted bike paths on the street. Up to three minutes of stopping was allowed. Penalty: From 55 euros - in severe cases up to 100 euros and a point in the driving suitability register, ie in "Flensburg".
- When overtaking bicycles, pedestrians and electric scooters, there is a minimum distance of 1.5 meters in urban areas and two meters outside. So far, only a "sufficient" distance was required.
- Trucks over 3.5 tonnes have to travel at walking pace when turning right in urban areas if bicycle or foot traffic is to be expected. Penalty: 70 euros and one point.
- In streets with a cycle path, parking at intersections and junctions at a distance of eight meters from the intersection of the road edges is prohibited - otherwise it is five meters.
- Signs may in future indicate an overtaking ban that only overtakes cars and other multi-lane vehicles.
- The unauthorized use of an emergency lane is now punished in exactly the same way as no emergency lane for emergency vehicles. There are fines between 200 and 320 euros, a month's driving ban and two points.
WHAT IS PUNISHED HARDER NOW:
- From now on, in urban areas, 21 kilometers per hour are more than allowed to - in addition to a penalty of 80 euros and a point - collect a month's driving ban. Outside of town it is 26 km / h, unlike before, the driver's license can be gone for a month for the first time. So far it was 31 km / h in town and 41 km / h outside.
- Driving too fast is also more expensive. In towns and cities, the possible fines double up to the 20 km / h mark. Up to 10 km / h too fast now threaten 30 euros in urban areas, up to 15 km / h 50 euros and up to 20 km / h 70 euros. Everything stays the way it is. Outside of locations, it is now 20, 40 and 60 euros.
- Parking on footpaths and bike paths now costs 55 instead of 20 euros. If someone is hindered or endangered, it becomes significantly more expensive - up to 100 euros - and brings a point.
- Parking and stopping in the second row was previously punished with 20 euros, now it is 55. With disabilities, danger or even property damage it becomes more expensive - up to 110 euros, here too there is a point.
- Parking in a parking lot for the severely disabled will in future be punished with 55 euros, previously it was 35 euros.
- Penalties for unauthorized parking in tight or confusing spaces are increased from 15 to 35 euros if others are hindered by up to 55 euros (instead of 35).
- Parking in the stopping ban is also becoming more expensive: instead of up to 15 euros, up to 25 euros are now incurred, with others with disabilities and longer than an hour, it can be up to 50 euros - instead of 35 as before.
- General violations when parking, e.g. if the parking meter expires or the parking disc is missing, will be punished with at least 20 instead of the previous 10 euros, and can cost up to 40 (instead of 30) euros depending on the duration. In general, disregarding the stopping ban can be punished with 20 instead of 10 euros, disabilities with 35 instead of 15.
- Anyone who takes the right of way when turning, or does not let them through, must expect 40 euros instead of the previous 20. If someone is endangered, the possible penalty doubles from 70 to 140 euros, in addition to the point there is now also a month's driving ban.
- Not paying attention when getting on and off can also be more expensive - 40 instead of 20 euros are possible, with property damage 50 instead of 25 euros.
- The improper use of sidewalks, cycle paths on the left or hard shoulder or traffic islands by vehicles will be punished with 55 euros instead of up to 10 euros - depending on the severity of the case, it can also be 100 euros instead of 25 as before.
- "Auto-Posing" means when you drive back and forth unnecessarily and annoy people with noise and exhaust gas. The fine for this is increased from up to 20 euros to up to 100 euros.
- It becomes more expensive for cyclists to drive on the sidewalk without permission: there are 25 instead of 15 euros, with a risk of 35 instead of 25.
- Disregarding entry bans for certain weight classes and vehicle types or for all vehicles - i.e. the white dash on a red background - can be twice as expensive: 40 instead of 20 or 50 instead of 25 euros.
WHAT OTHER CHANGES:
- The green arrow on traffic lights now also applies to cyclists on a cycle path or cycle lane. A separate green arrow is also possible, which only applies to cyclists.
- In addition to bicycle roads, entire bicycle zones are made possible in which a maximum speed of 30 kilometers per hour applies and bicycle traffic must not be endangered or obstructed.
- New icon allows car sharing vehicles privileged parking. Unauthorized parking there can cost 55 euros. A new badge on the windshield can mark such shared cars.
- A new symbol can indicate parking spaces and loading areas for cargo bikes.
- In addition, it is clarified that separate parking spaces for electrically powered vehicles can be marked with a symbol on the lane. Unauthorized parking there can cost 55 euros.
Federal Ministry of Transport on the new rules
Federal Ministry of Transport on the new fines
Federal Council decision to amend the Road Traffic Act of 14 February 2020
ADAC on the amendment of the traffic regulations
Original proposal for a regulation by the federal government (approved by the Federal Council with amendments)
Fines regulation