Driving in Slovenia

Speed Limits

The speed limits in Slovenia are 50 km/h in built up areas, 90 km/h outside built up areas, 110 km/h on dual carriageways and 130 km/h on motorways.

Right of Way

Buses have right of way at all times (and may sometimes pull out without warning).

Daytime Running Headlamps

All vehicles must use headlamps at all times.

Toll Roads

See also: Highways in Slovenia

In accordance with the amendment of the Public Roads Act, approved by the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia end of April 2008, use of vignettes (Vinjeta) is obligatory for all vehicles with the permissible maximum weight of 3,500 kg (the current first and second toll-rate category) on motorways and expressways in the Republic of Slovenia as of 1 July 2008. The toll-collection system with vignettes is being introduced with the aim of improving traffic flow and reducing emissions to the environment.

With the introduction of the toll-collection system with vignettes in the second half of 2008, only half-yearly vignettes will be put on sale, while purchase of yearly vignettes for 2009 will be possible not later than by the beginning of December 2008.

From 1 July 2008 onwards, purchase of a vignette is obligatory for use of a toll road with a vehicle whose permissible maximum weight does not exceed 3.500 kg, regardless of the maximum weight of a trailer.

The vignettes have been criticized by the European Commission and various automobile clubs from Central and Southern Europe, spawning numerous guides on how to avoid highways, and causing high traffic dilapidating the roadway on secondary roads. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the main protestors were Austrian, and yet Austria has had a vignette regime in place for many years. ^[1][2][3][4] On 28 January 2010, after short-term vignettas were introduced by Slovenia and some other changes were made to the Slovenian vignette system, the European Commission concluded that the vignette system is in accordance with the European law.^[5]

Parking in Cities

• Yellow spaces are reserved and may not be used.
• Blue spaces are for use for a maximum of half an hour or two hours. The time of arrival must be written on a piece of paper left on the dashboard and left for the municipal wardens to see.
• White spaces may be used by anybody. A parking card must be purchased from a nearby meter to allow parking for up to an hour. Multiple cards may be used for longer periods of time.

Regulations

• The minimum age for driving in Slovenia is 18.
• Documentation must be carried at all times, as it can be requested by the police or by municipal wardens.
• The use of mobile phones whilst driving is banned.
• Drink-driving is not an option: the blood-alcohol limit is 0.05 mg per 100ml and penalties are severe.
• Snow-tyres or chains must be used in snowy conditions.

External links

• Drive Safe
• Slovenian Driving Community

References

1. ^ "Protest: Toll sticker in Slovenia makes driving more expensive for tourists". Wien International. 2008-05-28. http://www.wieninternational.at/en/node/8938. Retrieved 2008-07-11. 
2. ^ "Od 1. srpnja prolaz kroz Sloveniju stajat će oko 260 kuna!" (in Croatian). Dnevnik.hr. 2008-03-21. http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/svijet/slovenija-uvodi-vinjete.html. Retrieved 2008-07-12. 
3. ^ "Kroz Sloveniju besplatno (guide to avoid highways)" (in Croatian). http://bezvinjete.blogspot.com/. 
4. ^ Split-Guide, Dalmatien Travelguide
5. ^ "Brussels Stops Proceedings over Vignettes". STA. 29 January 2010. http://www.sta.si/en/vest.php?id=1474765.