No, riding unrestrained in a truck bed is illegal under Austria’s Kraftfahrgesetz (KFG) § 106 and StVO § 108, risking €72–€2,180 fines. The Verkehrsclub Österreich (VCÖ) reports 18% of truck-related injuries involve unsecured passengers, prompting 2026 enforcement upgrades by the Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz (BMK).
Key Regulations for Riding in the Back of a Truck in Austria
- Seatbelt Mandate: All occupants must use approved restraints; truck beds lack anchor points, violating StVO § 4. Exemptions apply only to emergency responders in marked vehicles.
- Load Security: The Arbeitsinspektion enforces ASchG § 6 for occupational transport, requiring enclosed cargo areas or certified seating for workers.
- Speed Limits: Trucks exceeding 25 km/h with passengers in unsecured areas breach KFG § 20, as per 2025 Landeshauptmann directives in Vienna, Upper Austria, and Styria.
Local authorities, including the Wiener Polizei, conduct random checks near construction zones, where 60% of violations occur. The Österreichischer Automobil-, Motorrad- und Touring Club (ÖAMTC) advises carriers to adopt EU-compliant EN 1789 modular seating systems by 2026 to avoid liability under Produkthaftungsgesetz.