Image: HELMUT FOHRINGER (APA)
There will also be numerous new regulations for driving schools and driving instructor training. According to the 41st amendment, a “reference to Austria” will also be required in future for the approval of transfer trips.
The 41st KFG amendment must first be approved by the National Council. As early as 2021, the State Transport Conference spoke out in favor of increasing the statutory penalties for violating the ban on mobile phones at the wheel or violating the obligation to wear seat belts or helmets. Currently, 50 euros for the ban on mobile phones and 35 euros for seat belts and helmets are earmarked for organ mandates. These amounts are too low “to have any deterrent effect,” according to the impact assessment. For this reason, the amounts to be levied with a penal order will be increased from EUR 50 to EUR 100 (cell phone infringement) and from EUR 35 to EUR 50 (belt/helmet). If the authorities are reported, the fine to be imposed by the authorities will be increased from 72 euros to 140 euros (mobile phone ban) or from 72 euros to 100 euros (belt/helmet). This should apply from May 1st.
In 2022, according to the Ministry of the Interior, 88,394 violations of the seat belt requirement were recorded across Austria. 130,540 drivers were reported for using the phone while driving without a hands-free device or were punished on the spot with a penal order.
A protective helmet requirement for all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and quads was previously based on four-wheeled motor vehicles. In the meantime, however, such vehicles are also available in six-wheel versions. The previous obligation regarding the obligation to wear helmets and the regulation on the transport of children should also apply to such six-wheeled vehicles.
Due to cases of abuse in the approval of transfer journeys and the use of transfer plates, a “reference to Austria” will be created as a criterion in the future. The 41st amendment to the KFG also stipulates that specially trained Asfinag employees may in future inspect special transports on motorways and expressways without the involvement of the police.
In the future, more precise regulations will apply to driving school owners and driving school directors. In addition, the training of the teaching staff there will be redesigned and a driving instructor ID card in credit card format will be introduced.
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. A new vehicle must then be registered with the same registration owner within six months, after which the old number plates can be taken over. Because cases are increasing where new vehicles are not delivered on time and the six-month period for keeping the license plate free is expiring, this is now to be extended to twelve months.
Source: Nachrichten
