Federal states lift Sunday driving ban due to low water levels

Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland, and Rhineland-Palatinate are among the first states to take this step. The respective transport authorities reacted to the low water levels on the Rhine and Danube, which severely restrict shipping. The relaxation applies on a temporary basis for now and is oriented to the duration of the low-water phase.

Part of the background is a second major event over the weekend: In Cologne, the Cologne Pride took place on Sunday. The organizers clearly articulated the claim of the demonstration. They stated: "Wer die Freiheit der queeren Community, die Freiheit dieser Gesellschaft einschränken will, legt sich mit den Falschen an." In doing so, Cologne Pride e. V. underscored the political character of the march, which attracts tens of thousands of participants each year.

Impact on hauliers and residents

For the haulage industry, the suspension of the Sunday driving ban means a noticeable easing. Many logistics companies had complained in recent days about delivery bottlenecks and rising costs because inland vessels could only sail to a limited extent or had failed entirely due to low water. With the relaxation, supply chains can be partially compensated, although the additional truck journeys increase pressure on roads and drivers.

The measure is not new: In earlier low-water years, federal states had also temporarily suspended the Sunday driving ban to ensure supplies. However, the current decision comes at a phase in which several factors are converging: low precipitation over weeks, high evaporation during the summer months, and increased transport demand.

At the same time, authorities are also monitoring the situation in other river basins. The Danube is also currently carrying very little water, according to the facts. In Italy and Spain, the drought has been described as a serious challenge for weeks. This international classification shows that the current low-water focus in Central Europe is part of a broader summer phenomenon.

Other federal states and drought in Europe

For the population, the suspension of the Sunday driving ban has immediate effects: Residents along important transit routes must expect more truck traffic, including on weekends. Hauliers, in turn, gain flexibility but must continue to strictly observe driving and rest times. According to the states, checks on highways and federal roads will generally remain in place.

It is still open which federal states will follow the example. According to industry circles, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse are examining similar steps but have not yet issued a general ruling. Saxony-Anhalt, where it is widely known that the Halle region lies on important transport axes, is also monitoring developments on the Rhine. There is no nationwide uniform regulation, since the Sunday driving ban is governed by state law or the Road Traffic Regulations, and relaxations are decided locally in each case.

How long does the relaxation apply?

In addition to freight transport, the drought is causing concern in other sectors. Agriculture in the affected regions is reporting in some cases significant yield losses, and individual municipalities have already restricted water usage. This is bringing the question of a long-term strategy for low-water phases more to the fore, for example through investments in alternative transport routes or in improved water infrastructure.

The responsible ministries in the affected states point out that the orders are regularly reviewed. As soon as water levels on the Rhine and Danube stabilize or precipitation forecasts suggest a significant improvement, the Sunday driving ban will come back into force, according to the transport authorities. Until then, the rule is: more transport on the road, less on the water.