No need to worry for drivers: According to Hanke, no increase in vignette prices planned
Although discussions with coalition partner ÖVP are still ongoing, the car vignette is currently not an issue. The focus is on the increase in truck tolls as outlined in the government program, with the stipulation that freight companies should not be overly burdened during economically challenging times, according to Hanke in the Ö1 "Midday Journal".
The final model is to be presented at the end of August, the Transport Minister explained. "There are currently two different approaches," said Hanke. There are still a few weeks left for intensive discussions. The legally mandated adjustment of vignette prices to general inflation ("valorization") remains in place, according to the minister's press office.
ÖVP sees freight companies as overly burdened
The background to the need for clarification within the coalition is the increase in truck tolls planned by the SPÖ-led Transport Ministry from 2026. The draft includes, among other things, a significant increase in surcharges for noise pollution and air pollution. The goal is greater cost transparency in road freight transport and ecological steering. Based on this, 42 million euros in additional revenue are already budgeted for 2026. The current tariffs range from five to 61 cents per kilometer, depending on the size, emissions, and noise level of the vehicle.
However, for the ÖVP, the burdens on transporters are too high and not balanced. Domestic companies would be more heavily burdened than international freight companies. To reach the revenue target of 42 million euros, the one-day and ten-day vignettes could be made more expensive, said ÖVP transport spokesperson Joachim Schnabel one and a half weeks ago.
Majority of tolls from heavy traffic
The state highway company Asfinag finances its new construction and maintenance program through toll and vignette revenues. The toll revenues amounted to around 1.66 billion euros in 2024. 609 million euros were contributed by drivers with the vignette.
Hanke Wants to Ban E-Mopeds from Bike Paths
Transport Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ) has announced plans to ban e-mopeds from bike paths. "Clear steps" towards this will be developed over the summer, he said on Thursday in the Ö1 midday journal. Particularly in cities, the presence of e-scooters and e-mopeds has increased massively. The average speed of e-mopeds on bike paths is getting higher. "I don't think it's a good idea to continue like this. Therefore, a regulation is needed," Hanke told Ö1.
It is planned that e-mopeds will then only be allowed to drive on the road, according to the responsible ministry. This means they will also need a license plate. Additionally, a helmet requirement is to be introduced, which will also apply to e-scooters. "The top priority for me is the safety of all road users. A helmet requirement for e-mopeds, e-scooters, and e-bikes is not only sensible given the speeds driven but long overdue," Hanke stated in a written statement to the APA. "Therefore, we are currently having various proposals from our experts reviewed over the summer and will incorporate them into the development of our draft law. It is clear: more control, targeted education, and binding rules are needed - otherwise, a practical everyday vehicle becomes a real safety risk."
Demand from the City of Vienna
At the beginning of July, the City of Vienna, traffic planner Harald Frey from TU Wien, and the mobility clubs ARBÖ and ÖAMTC demanded an amendment to the Motor Vehicle Act and the Road Traffic Regulations to ban e-mopeds from bike paths. Hanke already announced on Monday that he intends to work on an amendment to the Road Traffic Regulations over the summer. Details - such as a ban on e-mopeds on bike paths - were left open.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.