Using a mobile phone while driving will lead to higher penalties in the future, as will driving without a seatbelt or helmet. The federal government took the initiative in the Council of Ministers on Wednesday to amend the Motor Vehicles Act (KFG) accordingly. This includes further changes and refinements.
Currently, 50 euros for the ban on mobile phones and 35 euros for seat belts and helmets are earmarked for organ mandates. According to the impact assessment, these amounts are too low “to have a deterrent effect”. For this reason, the amounts to be collected with a writ of execution will be increased from 50 euros to 100 euros (mobile phone violation) and from 35 euros to 50 euros (belt/helmet).
Upon reporting, the fine to be imposed by the government is increased from 72 euros to 140 euros (mobile phone ban) or from 72 euros to 100 euros (belt/helmet). This should apply from May 1.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, 88,394 seatbelt violations were recorded in Austria in 2022. 130,540 drivers were reported using a telephone behind the wheel without a hands-free facility or were fined on the spot with an official writ of execution.
Helmets are also mandatory for six-wheeled quads
A protective helmet requirement for all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and quad bikes was previously based on four-wheeled motor vehicles. However, such vehicles are now also available in six-wheel versions. Such six-wheeled vehicles should also be subject to the earlier obligation to wear a helmet and the regulation for the transport of children.
Due to cases of abuse in the approval of transfer journeys and the use of transfer plates, an “Austrian connection” will be created as a criterion in the future. The 41st amendment of the KFG also stipulates that in future specially trained Asfinag employees will be allowed to inspect special transports on highways and expressways without the intervention of the police.
In the future, more precise rules will apply to driving school owners and driving school directors, the training of teaching staff will also be reorganized there and a driving instructor ID card in credit card format will be introduced.
Longer period for keeping the license plate free
The amendment also takes into account supply bottlenecks in the vehicle industry. If you deregister a car, you have the option of keeping the license plate free. Subsequently, a new vehicle must be registered with the same license plate holder within six months, after which the old license plates can be taken over. Because it is increasingly common for new vehicles not to be delivered on time and the six-month period for keeping the license plate clear is coming to an end, it has now been extended to twelve months.
Source: Krone
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