Austria implements driving bans in Tirol and winter tire mandates

Austria is implementing seasonal traffic measures to manage congestion and ensure winter safety. In the state of Tirol, driving bans on specific secondary roads will be reinstated starting May 1, 2026. These measures, described by the regional government as a “defensive measure,” aim to prevent motorists traveling between Germany and Italy from using small local roads to bypass highway traffic jams, which causes significant burden for local residents. The bans apply to selected routes in the districts of Innsbruck/Innsbruck Land, Kufstein, Imst, and Reutte. To assist drivers, traffic police feed these restrictions into navigation systems to prevent automated routing through restricted areas.

Separately, a situational winter equipment mandate will take effect across Austria on November 1. From November 1 until April 15, drivers must use tires marked with the Alpine symbol and snowflake to handle winter conditions. Experts from the ÖAMTC recommend checking tire tread depth, noting that while the legal minimum is four millimeters, safety performance—particularly water displacement on wet roads—drops significantly once tread reaches that level. Drivers are advised to ensure a minimum of five to six millimeters at the start of the season.