Road traffic act
The European Commission has published a draft that aims to bring the driving licence to the smartphone as a digital document. It regulates format, security and validity as well as sensitive practical questions such as the revocation of the driving entitlement across borders.
A casual remark by Federal Minister of Labor Bärbel Bas on the ARD talk show “Caren Miosga” has reignited a long-standing controversy: Should motorcycles be allowed to filter through stationary traffic? While lane splitting remains illegal in Germany, a petition to the Bundestag is gathering signatures for legalization.
On July 1, 2026, an update to the Road Traffic Act takes effect that criminalizes trading driving penalty points and permits digital parking enforcement. For motorcycle and car drivers, several rules are changing at once.
The B 54 in the Aar Valley is once again at the center of a debate over motorcycle noise and road safety. Two village heads are now calling for the federal road to be closed on weekends, with local motorcyclists to be exempted.
Environmental groups are proposing a nationwide system of noise protection zones with a badge requirement for motorcycles, similar to the well-known environmental badge. At the center is a noise limit of 80 dB(A), whose actual significance depends heavily on how and where measurements are taken.
An international investigation accuses KTM of systematically putting illegal sport enduros on the road. The allegations sound dramatic, but a closer look reveals a significantly more nuanced picture.
Using a phone while driving now costs your license in four French départements. What began as a local initiative in Landes is spreading and also affects motorcyclists.
Two speeding offences on his motorcycle cost former Isle of Man TT rider and TV presenter Guy Martin his driving licence. A court in Loughborough, England, imposed a six-month driving ban and a total fine of £1,329 (approximately €1,550 / $1,720).
A new study by the American College of Surgeons shows that hospital costs for motorcycle crash patients in Michigan increased drastically after the repeal of the universal helmet law. The financial burden falls not only on those affected but also on taxpayers and public insurance programs.
Fuel prices in Germany have reached levels last seen during the 2022 energy crisis. At the start of the 2026 motorcycle season, this hits particularly hard — and relief is not in sight.
The Swiss parliament has approved a new fee targeting foreign vehicles that merely pass through the country. Motorcyclists traveling to Italy would also be affected, whether taking the motorway or an alpine pass.
EU driving licence reform, French speed limit crackdowns, US legislation and international court rulings: All legal and political developments that affect motorcyclists worldwide.
Starting in May 2026, numerous Austrian cities plan to introduce new access restrictions that will be monitored by cameras. The measures also apply to foreign vehicles and could prove costly for tourists.
Tesla wants to introduce its Full Self-Driving system in Europe as quickly as possible, but serious accidents involving motorcycles are raising questions about safety. The Dutch registration authority RDW is demanding that the protection of motorcyclists be a priority—only then can approval be granted.
By lowering the minimum age for 125cc motorcycles to 16 in 2021, Switzerland adopted an EU regulation. Since then, the number of serious accidents involving young motorcyclists has risen significantly. According to the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU), the number of serious accidents involving 16- and 17-year-olds has almost tripled. Last year, 156 young people between the ages of 15 and 17 were seriously injured in motorcycle accidents, six of whom died. The average number of seriously injured young people in the four years prior to the change in the law was significantly lower, as confirmed by the BFU. The advisory center had spoken out against lowering the age limit in advance and sees its fears confirmed by current developments.
France is lifting the restrictions on lane filtering and, after years of testing, is now making this driving technique legal throughout the country. The corresponding decree was passed on January 9, 2025 and came into force the very next day. For motorcyclists and scooter riders throughout the country, this represents a significant step towards greater riding comfort in slow-moving traffic.
The European Union is facing a major shift in its transport policy aimed at tackling reckless driving across all European borders. In a recent vote, the European Parliament voted in favor of an initiative to ensure that driving bans imposed in one member state are recognized across the EU.
Spain has made it compulsory for riders and passengers to wear suitable motorcycle gloves when riding a motorcycle.
In the future, driving too fast in Austria can be really expensive. Even confiscation of the vehicle is to be made possible in some cases. The Austrian Ministry of Transport wants to introduce the higher penalties as early as summer 2021. at least for the most part.
As reported, there was a 5-year traffic trial on several routes in France where lane splitting was allowed in traffic jams. Before that, there was no real regulation, but it was tolerated. – This has now changed.
