In this category you will find articles covering legal topics related to motorcycles and road traffic. This includes changes in legislation, court decisions, regulations, as well as developments concerning registration, licensing and road safety.
The list below brings together reports on national and international rules, judicial decisions and political initiatives that may affect motorcycle riders or the motorcycle market. Where possible, the background and practical implications of the respective regulations are explained.
This section provides an overview of the legal framework and current developments relevant to motorcycle riders.
The Munich Administrative Court has dismissed the lawsuit against the motorcycle riding ban on the B 307 and declared the order issued by the Rosenheim district authority lawful. The German Motorcyclists’ Federation is now waiting for the written grounds of the judgment and will decide its next steps depending on whether the closure becomes permanent next year.
South Tyrol has banned organized motorsport events on around 100 road sections and generally above 1,600 meters in altitude. With the official list of routes and details on fines and enforcement, it’s now possible to pinpoint exactly where the ban applies and what touring riders are still allowed to do.
Austria is overhauling its traffic fines from January 1, 2027. Fines for anonymous penalty notices will then apply at the same level in every federal state and rise by an average of around 50 percent.
According to media reports, the European Commission is examining a technology that would automatically slow vehicles down when they exceed the speed limit. For motorcyclists, the plan raises a number of open questions, since no law exists yet.
South Tyrol’s regional government has banned organized motorsport events on mountain pass roads above 1,600 meters and in protected areas. The ruling takes effect immediately and raises a key question for motorcyclists that the official text doesn’t clearly answer.
Across Europe, cases are piling up where automatic emergency braking systems trigger a full stop without any real obstacle. For motorcyclists riding behind such vehicles, this sudden braking can be life-threatening.
For the first time ever, a European country has legalized dashcams by law, while the classic ban countries are noticeably tightening their enforcement. Anyone riding a motorcycle across several borders this summer will run into a patchwork of rules that can change every few kilometers.
Starting October 1, 2026, new regulations on protective equipment for motorcyclists and on behavior in traffic jams will apply in Spain. The changes affect not only locals but also anyone traveling to Spain by motorcycle.
The EU has passed a new law on end-of-life vehicles that covers cars and, for the first time, motorcycles. It becomes particularly important when selling a vehicle or when the question arises after an accident whether it should be repaired or scrapped.
The L 1152 state road between Jagdshof and Schauberg remains closed to motorcycles, and the ban now extends to an additional weekday in 2026. Two motorcyclists are challenging the measure in court at the Meiningen Administrative Court, backed by the German Federal Association of Motorcyclists.
The CDU in Wermelskirchen is calling for a trial motorcycle ban on the L 409. Residents in Dabringhausen and Dhünn have been complaining for years about noise and speeding. The question, however, is whether the motion is really about road safety or primarily about giving residents their peace and quiet.
The European Commission has published a draft that aims to bring the driving licence to the smartphone as a digital document. It regulates format, security and validity as well as sensitive practical questions such as the revocation of the driving entitlement across borders.
A casual remark by Federal Minister of Labor Bärbel Bas on the ARD talk show “Caren Miosga” has reignited a long-standing controversy: Should motorcycles be allowed to filter through stationary traffic? While lane splitting remains illegal in Germany, a petition to the Bundestag is gathering signatures for legalization.
On July 1, 2026, an update to the Road Traffic Act takes effect that criminalizes trading driving penalty points and permits digital parking enforcement. For motorcycle and car drivers, several rules are changing at once.
The B 54 in the Aar Valley is once again at the center of a debate over motorcycle noise and road safety. Two village heads are now calling for the federal road to be closed on weekends, with local motorcyclists to be exempted.
Environmental groups are proposing a nationwide system of noise protection zones with a badge requirement for motorcycles, similar to the well-known environmental badge. At the center is a noise limit of 80 dB(A), whose actual significance depends heavily on how and where measurements are taken.
From 1 to 7 June 2026, police authorities from more than 30 European countries will specifically target motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles and e-scooters. Operation Two-Wheelers has become a permanent fixture in the ROADPOL calendar this year and goes well beyond simple speed checks.
Two days after the international investigation into allegedly illegal sport enduros, KTM AG has issued an official statement. The manufacturer firmly rejects the allegations and speaks of a fundamental misunderstanding.
An international investigation accuses KTM of systematically putting illegal sport enduros on the road. The allegations sound dramatic, but a closer look reveals a significantly more nuanced picture.
Using a phone while driving now costs your license in four French départements. What began as a local initiative in Landes is spreading and also affects motorcyclists.
