A military convoy will travel between Szolnok and Eger on Thursday, 2 July, and drivers in the area are being asked to use extra caution near the vehicles, according to the official Facebook page of the MH Kiss József 86th Helicopter Brigade.

The brigade said it would relocate technical equipment between 8 am and 4 pm on the Szolnok–Eger–Szolnok route. The planned route is Szolnok, Jászladány, Zagyvarékas, Heves, Tenk, Dormánd, Maklár and Eger, before the convoy returns to Szolnok along the same route.

Military convoy to move technical equipment

The Hungarian Defence Forces said the movement will be carried out in line with the relevant legal regulations, with efforts made to disturb local residents and road users as little as possible.

The brigade did not give further details about the type of technical equipment being moved. Such notices are common when military units relocate vehicles or equipment on public roads, especially where local traffic may be affected by slower-moving or longer vehicle columns.

For international readers, Szolnok is an important military aviation centre in central Hungary. The Hungarian Defence Forces’ official profile of the MH Kiss József 86th Helicopter Brigade notes that the unit is based in Szolnok, where military aviation has a long history. The organisation became the MH Kiss József 86th Helicopter Brigade in 2023.

What drivers should watch out for

The Hungarian Defence Forces are asking motorists to drive with increased caution near military vehicles and convoys. The main reason is that the length, speed and movement pattern of a military convoy may differ from ordinary road traffic.

Drivers should expect the convoy to be longer than a normal line of civilian vehicles. It may also move at a different pace, especially through towns, junctions, roundabouts or narrower road sections. Sudden overtaking or cutting into the convoy can create dangerous situations.

The Defence Forces have repeatedly warned in similar notices that civilian vehicles must not drive into a closed military column. In earlier guidance published by Honvédelem.hu, the ministry said closed columns are usually secured by escort vehicles at the front and rear.

This means drivers should not assume that a gap between two military vehicles is an invitation to enter the line. Motorists should keep a safe distance, avoid impatient manoeuvres and follow the instructions of any escort vehicles or traffic-control personnel.

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Extra patience may be needed on local roads

The affected route includes several smaller settlements, where a longer convoy can have a more visible impact on traffic than on major motorways. Temporary slowdowns are possible in and around Jászladány, Zagyvarékas, Heves, Tenk, Dormánd and Maklár, as well as near Eger and Szolnok.

Eger is also a popular destination for tourists, meaning foreign visitors driving in the region may encounter the convoy without being familiar with Hungarian military traffic notices. The key advice is simple: slow down, leave more space than usual, do not attempt risky overtaking, and let the convoy pass safely.

The Hungarian Defence Forces thanked residents and road users for their patience and understanding. The notice is mainly preventive: it is intended to help drivers prepare for unusual road traffic and reduce the risk of accidents while the military vehicles are being moved.

Anyone travelling between Szolnok and Eger on Thursday should allow extra time and pay close attention to traffic signs, escort vehicles and the movement of the convoy.

As we wrote earlier, the Hungarian army’s new chief of the general staff appointed by defence minister