Hungary set to introduce new road sign in Highway Code overhaul

Hungary may soon introduce a completely new type of road sign as part of its planned overhaul of the Highway Code (KRESZ). The draft legislation, which has been under discussion for months, includes a “carpool” supplementary sign that has never before been used in the country.

This road sign would indicate that certain lanes or road sections can only be used by vehicles carrying a minimum number of people, including the driver. The required number of occupants would be displayed directly on the new road sign, making it clear which vehicles qualify.

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How the new road sign works in practice

The idea is simple: cars with more passengers are prioritised. In practice, this could mean that motorists driving alone may be restricted from using specific lanes, particularly during busy periods. The concept is based on so-called High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, commonly referred to as “carpool lanes”.

As Vezess.hu highlighted, these are designed to reduce the number of vehicles on the road by encouraging people to share rides. Typically, at least two or three people are required in a vehicle to access such lanes. By increasing average occupancy, authorities hope to ease congestion and reduce harmful emissions: two persistent challenges in urban transport.

International examples brought mixed results

Although new to Hungary, carpool lane systems are well established in countries such as the United States and Canada, where they often span thousands of kilometres. In some cases, these lanes are physically separated and may even change direction depending on traffic flow. Additional variations allow electric vehicles, buses, or motorcyclists to use them, or permit solo drivers to pay for access via “HOT lanes”.

In Europe, however, the concept has had mixed success. Early attempts in the Netherlands failed due to low usage and legal issues, while similar initiatives in cities like Leeds were eventually abandoned or repurposed. Madrid remains a notable exception, where dedicated “Bus-VAO” (Vehículos de Alta Ocupación) lanes have operated successfully since the 1990s. Elsewhere, including cities such as Oslo, Linz and Paris, carpool lanes exist but are often used only on a limited basis or under specific conditions.

It remains unclear when the new road sign will officially come into force alongside other planned regulations, but if the rules are going to be implemented effectively, with proper enforcement and sufficient traffic demand, the introduction of carpool lanes could change transport across the country.

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