Road Restriction Hours for Semi-Trucks and Lorries

In Turkey, heavy vehicles such as trucks and lorries are not allowed to continue their journeys during the prohibited hours. These hours are generally set to regulate urban traffic and reduce bottlenecks that may occur on the roads.

However, these restrictions can also have a number of negative impacts on drivers. Therefore, drivers, especially those who are professional in transport business, should pay attention to these prohibition hours and plan their journeys more carefully. In this article, we will share detailed information on road prohibition hours, penalties, and usage for trucks and lorries.

What is the Road Prohibition for Trucks and Lorries?

The road prohibition for trucks and lorries in Turkey is a restriction applied at certain hours and in specific areas to prevent traffic issues that may arise due to the density of large vehicles.

The purpose of this prohibition is to ease traffic flow, particularly during peak hours, ensure that vehicles travel faster and safer, and prevent accidents. Keep reading to learn about the road prohibition hours applied for trucks and lorries in Turkey!

What are the Road Prohibition Hours for Trucks?

The entry and exit hours of trucks in the city vary depending on traffic density. Road transport companies can enter traffic during the hours determined by the highway transport coordination center of their respective cities. In Istanbul, regulations made by the Transportation Coordination Center have shifted the city entry hours for trucks outside of 06:00-10:00 and 16:00-22:00. However, it should be noted that this can vary depending on the type of cargo carried.

Trucks carrying dangerous goods are subject to stricter restrictions. These trucks can only enter the city between 02:00 and 06:00 at night. During crossings between the European and Anatolian sides, only the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge can be used, while the use of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and the 15 July Martyrs Bridge is prohibited for trucks transporting dangerous goods.

What Time Do Traffic Prohibition Hours Begin for Lorries?

Heavy-tonnage lorries are among the vehicles that have a highly negative impact on urban traffic. Consequently, the entry and exit hours of lorries in Istanbul have been rearranged by the Istanbul Transportation Coordination Center. Thanks to this regulation, access times for lorries are determined to coordinate the flow of urban traffic.

Road prohibition hours for lorries are applied between 06:00 and 10:00 in the morning and between 16:00 and 22:00 in the evening. This prohibition is also limited to the hours of 10:00 and 16:00 for lorries carrying domestic and interstate goods. Through these measures, the impact of heavy-tonnage vehicles on traffic is minimized.

What is the Penalty for Violating Road Prohibition Hours for Trucks and Lorries?

Trucks and lorries must pay attention to their entry and exit hours in the city. If entry is made into the city outside the designated hours, an administrative fine is imposed in accordance with Article 49/3 of the Traffic Law.

These fines are quite high. If entry to the city is made outside the designated hours, a fine of 62 TL is imposed on driver of the vehicle. While this fine is applied directly to the driver, the vehicle owner faces an administrative fine of 130 TL.

Vehicles belonging to firms or companies face higher penalties. If a firm or company's trucks or lorries enter the city outside the designated hours, an administrative fine of 270 TL is imposed on the owner firm.

The time intervals set for trucks and lorries are generally valid for vehicles not transporting dangerous goods. However, trucks and lorries carrying dangerous goods can only enter the city between 02:00 and 06:00 at night. They may face heavier penalties for entries made outside these hours.

Failure to comply with the designated road prohibition hours for trucks and lorries brings a large financial burden both to drivers and vehicle owners. Therefore, it is extremely important for trucks and lorries to comply with the road prohibition hours and avoid entry outside the designated times.

In Which Cases are Trucks and Lorries Exempt from Road Prohibitions?

In Turkey, trucks and lorries are prohibited from entering urban roads during specific hours. However, in certain cases, they may be exempt from these prohibitions.

Additionally, in accordance with Article 49/2 of the Traffic Law, in case of emergency, trucks and lorries can enter the city even during prohibited hours. In this case, to prove that the vehicle is in an emergency situation, the driver must present the vehicle's documents and other emergency-related papers to the authorities.

Furthermore, trucks and lorries can benefit from certain exemptions depending on the type and specifications of their cargo. For example, under Article 49/1 of the Traffic Law, vehicles carrying dangerous goods can be exempted from the road prohibition. However, specific restrictions and rules apply to these vehicles.

According to Article 50/1 of the Traffic Law, vehicles engaged in international transport can be exempted from the road prohibition. However, certain conditions and rules also apply to these vehicles.

Finally, under Article 49/4 of the Traffic Law, trucks and lorries must comply with specific rules regarding load transport time, rest periods, and driving times. Drivers who do not comply with these rules may face penal sanctions.

Can Trucks Enter the City?

The issue of trucks entering the city in Turkey is highly controversial. Because of problems such as traffic congestion, pollution, and noise caused by trucks within the city, entry into the city for trucks has been prohibited in many cities.

In Turkey, entry and exit of trucks regarding the city are determined in accordance with Article 49/3 of the Traffic Law. According to this, hours and routes for truck entries are determined by regulations, and fines are applied to trucks that do not comply with these rules.

Particularly in large cities, truck entry is strictly regulated and they are allowed to enter the city only during specific hours and on designated routes.

How is Transportation Carried Out During Road Prohibition Hours for Trucks and Lorries?

Truck and lorry drivers who will transport during road prohibition hours can complete their journeys by setting off before the prohibition hours begin. However, there are a few specific ways for drivers who must set off during prohibition hours.

Firstly, special permissions can be granted for trucks of companies operating in specific sectors. For example, supermarket distribution trucks and fuel transport lorries can also set off during prohibited hours.

Another option is for trucks that will transport during prohibited hours to use alternative routes by changing their itinerary. With this method, travel can be conducted by staying away from the main roads where the ban is active.

Why Are Road Prohibition Hours Applied for Trucks and Lorries?

In Turkey, road prohibition hours for trucks and lorries are implemented to regulate urban traffic, reduce traffic congestion, and prevent air pollution. Especially in large cities, the density of lorries and trucks negatively affects the flow of traffic and causes pollution.

Because trucks and lorries are high-tonnage and wide vehicles, narrow urban roads and their difficulty in maneuvering can often cause traffic accidents. Additionally, the noise and emissions caused by these vehicles pose problems for environmental and human health.

Which Vehicles Cannot Enter the City?

In Turkey, in order to regulate urban traffic and reduce pollution, entry into city centers is restricted for vehicles with certain characteristics. These vehicles are generally non-environmentally friendly, high-emission, or cause excessive noise.

Which vehicles cannot enter the city is determined by the relevant local authorities and indicated by traffic signs or other methods. Therefore, the vehicle prohibition determined by each city may differ.

However, generally, the vehicles prohibited from entering cities in Turkey are as follows:

• Vehicles not complying with emission standards: Vehicles emitting gases harmful to the environment cannot enter city centers. Especially older model vehicles fall under the prohibition because they do not meet emission standards.

• Lorries and trucks: Due to the congestion and noise pollution created by lorries and trucks in urban traffic, their entry is restricted or completely banned during certain hours in some cities.

• High-tonnage vehicles: Extremely high or wide vehicles find it difficult to maneuver in narrow city streets and cause traffic congestion. For this reason, entry into city centers is restricted for vehicles above general tonnage and size limits.

• Certain commercial vehicles: Especially commercial vehicles operating in certain sectors are banned in some cities. For example, vehicles transporting food cannot enter city centers during certain hours in some cities.

• Certain private vehicles: In some cities, special-purpose vehicles or vehicles emitting high noise levels at night are restricted from entering city centers.

To obtain detailed information on which vehicles cannot enter the city, you can look at the websites of the relevant local authorities or check traffic signs.

At What Time Can Trucks Hit the Road?

Trucks can hit the road between 11:00 AM and 03:59 PM as well as between 11:00 PM and 05:59 AM. Fines are imposed on trucks and lorries that hit the road outside these hours.

What Time Does the Ankara Urban Prohibition Start?

For lorries and trucks, the Ankara road prohibition is applied between 06:00 and 10:00 in the morning and between 16:00 and 22:00 in the evening.