The proposal was published on the website of János Lázár, Minister for Construction and Transport, who has invited the public to comment before the bill is submitted to parliament, likely after the April elections.

According to the minister, everyday travel has changed dramatically since the current rules were introduced in the early 1970s.

“Traffic has accelerated. We travel more, more often, and in different ways. Roads, vehicles and driving habits have all changed,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook. “The Highway Code is a shared responsibility. Let’s shape it together.”

Over the past 18 months, transport experts and professional organisations have worked on a completely new framework, with road safety as its core principle. The stated aim is to better protect vulnerable road users — especially cyclists, pedestrians and scooter riders — in an environment dominated by increasingly powerful vehicles.
 

What’s likely to change

Hungarian tabloid Blikk has summarised the main proposals that would affect everyday travel once the new code comes into force:

Higher speed limits

* Some dual carriageways would see limits rise from 110 km/h to 120 km/h
* Certain motorway sections could allow speeds of up to 140 km/h
* Only vehicles capable of reaching at least 70 km/h would be allowed on motorways

New overtaking rules

* Overtaking trucks over 3.5 tonnes would be banned entirely

New rules for cyclists

* Maximum speed of 10 km/h on pavements and in pedestrian zones
* Maximum speed of 25 km/h on cycle paths
* Cycling under the influence of alcohol would be prohibited

New rules for scooters and e-scooters

* Low-powered scooters (up to 25 km/h) allowed for riders aged 12 and over

For the first two years:

* Helmet mandatory
* Maximum speed of 10 km/h on pavements
* Maximum speed of 20 km/h elsewhere
* Scooters capable of more than 45 km/h would be classified as mopeds and banned for under-14s

Stricter driving rules

Minimum following distance based on speed:

* 2 seconds on motorways
* 1 second on dual carriageways
* Indicators must be used at least 2 seconds before turning or changing lanes
* Headlights must be switched on at all times

Phone use would be banned for pedestrians on roads and railway crossings

Other changes:

* Brief passenger drop-offs (up to one minute) would be allowed in bus bays, even partially mounting the pavement
* Free online Highway Code and first-aid courses would be introduced, with exams in schools
* Learner drivers would only pay for practical lessons, not theory courses

From later this year, new cars may be required to have alcohol-detection technology that prevents the engine from starting if the driver is over the legal limit

What happens next?

The draft is currently open for public feedback. Once finalised, the legislation is expected to go before parliament later this year.

For expats living in Hungary — especially those who drive, cycle or use e-scooters — the new rules would bring some of the biggest changes in decades. If adopted, they will significantly reshape how people move around Hungarian roads and cities.
 

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