Albanian Parliament adopts stricter road code, bans any alcohol for new drivers

The Albanian Parliament approved amendments to the national Road Code with an 84‑vote unanimous majority. The new rules set a 0.0 % blood‑alcohol limit for drivers who have held a licence for less than two years, prohibiting any alcohol consumption while driving.

Repeat offenders caught with a blood‑alcohol level above 0.5 g/L will lose their driving licence permanently. Additional measures include a maximum speed of 90 km/h on highways and 80 km/h on other roads, higher fines for speed‑related violations near schools and at night, and a ban on using mobile phones while riding bicycles, electric scooters or similar vehicles. The reforms aim to improve road safety and strengthen penalties for traffic violations.