New rules for trucks on D1: End of overtaking between Prague and Brno

Since last year, new brands have already appeared on thirty-three sections. And the highway police immediately began to check how drivers obey the new sign. The police air service also got involved with a drone and fines were issued. For example, for a thousand violations in five months, and over five million crowns were collected in fines only on the D1 section in Vysočina. That is, where highway police officers take care of a stretch of almost a hundred kilometers long. 

The entire section of the highway there is under cameras, so the highway police have an overview of how truck drivers obey the signs. When the rules are broken on the camera, the patrol is informed, which moves on the highway and goes to the spot.

According to the legislation, there is a blanket ban on overtaking trucks even without prohibition signs. The law says that the driver of a truck weighing more than seven and a half tons and longer than twelve meters may not overtake if he endangers or restricts the vehicles driving behind him. The moment a truck starts overtaking on D1, it automatically does so and thereby commits an offence.

In addition to smoother traffic, the ban is intended to prevent overtaking trucks from blocking the entire highway. This situation has happened several times in the past. Overtaking is possible on approximately 40 kilometers thanks to three lanes.

Delay on route and later on unloading

While car drivers rub their hands with satisfaction, truck drivers see it differently. "It is difficult. I understand car drivers. On the other hand, calculate how many total kilometers it can do in ten hours, even though one truck is only going three kilometers faster. Even such 30 kilometers can then play a big role for unloading. The driver does not have to arrive on time and will have to wait until the next day, when he could already be on the next or return journey," points out a very important factor of the JAPO company driver.

For violating the ban, the driver faces a fine of up to 5,500 crowns. And he will also receive six penalty points on the driver's scorecard.

Complete ban in Slovakia, in Poland similar to Czechia

Overtaking restrictions for trucks on highways also work outside the borders of the Czech Republic. For example, in Slovakia, trucks and lorries may not overtake at all on highways and expressways. And when driving on uphill roads, they have to let go of the column that forms behind them. In extreme cases, even by parking the vehicle in the first suitable place. Otherwise, there is a fine of up to 65 euros.

In Slovenia, overtaking is prohibited for trucks on the longest Slovenian highway A1 on the route Šentilj - Koper.

From July 2023, there is a strict ban on overtaking trucks and lorries on all roads and highways with less than three lanes in Poland.   Violations of this prohibition are subject to fines of up to ten thousand crowns.

In Germany, trucks are not allowed to overtake where it is prohibited by a sign. They are allowed to overtake in places where it does not restrict traffic and it does not last longer than 45 seconds. Which means that the trucks would have to have a speed difference of at least 10 km/h. Otherwise, the driver faces a fine of up to 105 euros.

Did you know…

• Motorways in the Czech Republic under construction: 38 projects with a total length of 205.4 km
• Motorways in competition: 14 projects with a total length of 94.1 km
• Motorways in preparation: 78 projects with a total length of 543.4 km