Government plans nationwide standardisation and adjustment of traffic offence penalties Consistent and uniform sanctioning of traffic offences to strengthen road safety and increase preventive effects
The number of traffic accidents with injuries and road fatalities in Austria has increased significantly in 2025. Particularly concerning is the rise in serious traffic accidents due to excessive speed. The government is therefore putting forward an amendment to the Road Traffic Act (StVO) and an adjustment to the Anonymous Sanction Regulation for consultation. The aim is to have a nationwide uniform and contemporary design of traffic penalty frameworks focusing particularly on road safety and prevention from 2027 onwards.
“The safety of people on Austria’s roads is the highest priority for this government. Current accident figures clearly show that there is still work to be done. Those who disregard traffic rules often endanger not only themselves but also other road users. Consistent and nationwide uniform rules therefore make an important contribution to preventing serious accidents and protecting lives,” emphasises Minister of Mobility Peter Hanke.
Excessive speed remains central cause of accidents
The 2025 annual report from Statistics Austria on road traffic accidents involving personal injury shows a significant increase in accidents due to excessive speed. While in 2024 around 14 percent of all accidents with injuries were attributed to inappropriate speed, this proportion rose to over 16 percent in 2025.
Particularly alarming is the trend in traffic accidents resulting in fatalities: in about one-third of all fatal traffic accidents, excessive speed was the main cause. This remains one of the significant causes of the most severe traffic accidents in Austria. Compared to the previous year, an additional 15 lives were lost as a result.
Federal Minister Peter Hanke appeals: “Every fatal traffic accident is one too many! Unfortunately, not adhering to speed limits is still seen as a petty offence. However, the reality shows that it is one of the main reasons for fatal traffic accidents. This must finally end!”
Adjustment of penalty frameworks and standardisation of anonymous sanctions
Currently, there are sometimes different penalty amounts between the federal states for comparable traffic offences. For several years, harmonisation of the penalty catalogues has been demanded, including by the states.
The proposed regulation aims to standardise the penalty frameworks for anonymous sanctions nationwide and adjust them to the interim developments. Special focus is being placed on serious speeding violations.
SPÖ traffic spokesperson Wolfgang Moitzi commented: “Every day a person dies on Austria’s roads. Too often excessive speed is the reason for this. Speeders consciously endanger lives. We want them to face severe consequences, so we are increasing the penalties significantly. This ensures greater safety on Austria’s roads.”
ÖVP traffic spokesperson Joachim Schnabel: “Our mayors experience daily how great the concerns of many people are due to excessive speeds in built-up areas. We constantly receive feedback that speed limits are ignored, and this makes residents feel unsafe. Therefore, clear, transparent, and nationwide uniform rules are important. Those who drive massively too fast endanger other people - for this, a comprehensible and consistent penalty framework is needed.”
NEOS spokesperson on traffic Dominik Oberhofer: “For us, it is central to improve road safety on Austria’s roads. At the same time, it is important that there is no blanket increase in all traffic penalties - for instance with parking fines - but rather targeted offences that affect road safety are addressed. Those who drive massively too fast on the motorway endanger not only themselves but also others. Precisely because the penalties for speeding violations in Austria are low by international standards and the accident numbers have recently increased again, this measure with preventive effects is sensible. Additionally, with the harmonisation of penalties, we set clear and uniform standards nationwide. This step was long overdue.”
For violations with particular relevance to road safety – such as significant speeding violations – targeted increases in penalty frameworks are planned to strengthen the preventive effect and more effectively curb dangerous behaviour.
For offences without immediate relevance to road safety, such as certain parking violations, primary harmonisation occurs nationwide at the highest existing state level.
The adjustments affect different groups of road users and include not only motorised individual transport but also regulations for cycling traffic.
Specifically, the following is planned:
- Increase in penalty framework for speeding violations of more than 30 km/h from previously 150 – 5,000 euros to 200 – 5,000 euros
- Increase in penalty framework for speeding violations of more than 40 kilometres per hour (km/h) within built-up areas and 50 km/h outside built-up areas from previously 300 – 5,000 euros to 400 – 6,000 euros
- Adjustment and nationwide standardisation of penalty contributions for anonymous sanctions
The government thereby pursues the goal of sustainably improving traffic safety, ensuring equal treatment in all federal states, and strengthening the preventive effect of traffic rules.
Comprehensive measures to improve traffic safety already implemented
Already at the beginning of this year, a comprehensive reform of the Road Traffic Act (StVO) as well as amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act (KFG) and the Driving Licence Act (FSG) were adopted. This has implemented one of the largest road safety and modernisation packages in recent years.
Stricter safety requirements have been in place since 1 May 2026, including an extended helmet requirement for e-scooters (up to the age of 16) and e-bikes (up to the age of 14) as well as new technical requirements for e-scooters.
As of 1 October 2026, new regulations for e-mopeds will also come into effect. These will henceforth be legally treated as motor vehicles and therefore may no longer ride on cycle paths, which will lead to a significant improvement in cycle path safety.
In addition, the safety upgrade of the B 317 between St. Veit North and Friesach North was decided in April. The federal government is providing around 400 million euros for this.
“Traffic safety arises from the interplay of effective rules, modern infrastructure, and consistent control. Our goal is clear: fewer serious accidents and more safety for all people in traffic,” concludes Minister of Mobility Peter Hanke.