Zipper Merge and New Traffic Rules in Hungary: 2026 KRESZ Amendments

Introduction

Hungary’s traffic regulations have undergone a substantial overhaul in 2026, with amendments to Government Decree 1/1975 (II. 5.) KPM-BM on the Rules of Road Traffic (Közúti Közlekedés Szabályai, commonly known as “KRESZ”). Among the most widely discussed changes is the codification of the zipper merge (cipzár-módszer), a traffic manoeuvre that, while practised informally for years, now has explicit legal backing and enforceable obligations. This article analyses the key amendments, their practical implications for motorists, and the penalties for non-compliance.

Background: Why Amend the KRESZ?

The Hungarian road traffic code had remained largely unchanged in its conceptual framework for decades, despite the emergence of modern traffic engineering principles and the growing complexity of urban traffic. The 2026 amendments respond to several pressures:

• EU harmonisation: Alignment with best practices promoted by the European Commission’s road safety strategy and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.
• Rising congestion: Traffic studies conducted by the Hungarian Public Road Nonprofit Plc. (Magyar Közút Nonprofit Zrt.) demonstrated that improper merging behaviour at lane reductions was a leading contributor to both congestion and rear-end collisions.
• Technological change: The proliferation of electric scooters, bicycles, and other micromobility devices required updated regulatory responses.
• Public safety data: The Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) reported a persistent rise in urban traffic incidents attributable to ambiguous right-of-way situations.

The Zipper Merge: Legal Codification

What Is the Zipper Merge?

The zipper merge (cipzár-módszer or cipzár-elv) is a traffic management technique in which vehicles in a lane that is ending or obstructed continue to the merge point and then alternate — one from each lane — into the continuing lane. This contrasts with the common but inefficient practice of merging early, which causes uneven lane utilisation and longer queues.

New KRESZ Provisions

Under the 2026 amendments, the KRESZ now includes an explicit provision requiring the zipper merge in the following situations:

1. Lane reductions: Where a lane ends due to road design (e.g., a two-lane road narrowing to one lane), vehicles must proceed to the merge point and alternate entry into the continuing lane.
2. Obstructions: Where a lane is blocked by roadworks, an accident, or another obstruction, vehicles must use the zipper merge rather than queueing solely in the unobstructed lane.
3. On-ramp merging: At motorway on-ramps where an acceleration lane terminates, vehicles on the main carriageway must facilitate alternating entry.

The legal text stipulates that the driver in the continuing lane must yield to one vehicle from the terminating lane at the merge point, and vice versa, creating an alternating pattern. Failure to comply is classified as a failure to yield.

Practical Guidance

For motorists, the key behavioural changes are:

• Do not merge early: Drivers in a terminating lane should continue to the merge point. Early merging is no longer the courteous or legally expected behaviour.
• Allow alternating entry: Drivers in the continuing lane must create space for one vehicle from the merging lane at the merge point.
• Maintain moderate speed: The zipper merge works most effectively at moderate speeds. Aggressive acceleration to “cut ahead” or deliberate deceleration to block merging vehicles are both contrary to the new rules.
• Signalling: Drivers in the terminating lane must use their indicators when merging, just as with any lane change.

Updated Priority and Right-of-Way Rules

Roundabouts

The 2026 amendments also clarify priority rules at roundabouts (körforgalom). Under the amended KRESZ:

• Vehicles inside the roundabout have priority over vehicles entering the roundabout, unless signage indicates otherwise. While this was already the predominant rule, the amendment removes previous ambiguities in multi-lane roundabouts.
• Drivers exiting the roundabout must signal their intention using the right-turn indicator at least before passing the exit preceding their intended exit.

Tram Priority

The amendments reinforce and expand tram priority. Trams (villamos) now have statutory priority at all intersections unless a traffic signal explicitly directs otherwise. This codifies what was already customary practice in Budapest but extends the rule uniformly to all Hungarian municipalities with tram networks, including Debrecen, Miskolc, and Szeged.

Pedestrian Crossings

At unsignalised pedestrian crossings, the amended KRESZ introduces a stricter standard: drivers must begin decelerating when a pedestrian is visibly approaching the crossing, not only when the pedestrian has already stepped onto the roadway. This change aligns Hungarian law with Directive 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety management and best practices observed in Austria and Germany.

New and Updated Fine Amounts

The 2026 amendments introduce updated fine ranges for traffic infractions. The following table summarises key penalty amounts under the amended Act II of 2012 on Misdemeanours (szabálysértési törvény) and the related government decrees:

Infraction	Fine Range (HUF)
Failure to perform zipper merge	30,000 – 100,000
Failure to yield at pedestrian crossing	50,000 – 150,000
Improper roundabout entry/exit	20,000 – 80,000
Using a mobile phone while driving (handheld)	50,000 – 200,000
Failure to yield to tram	30,000 – 100,000
Speeding (up to 20 km/h over limit)	30,000 – 90,000
Speeding (20–50 km/h over limit)	90,000 – 300,000
Speeding (over 50 km/h above limit)	200,000 – 500,000

It is important to note that fines for on-the-spot penalties (helyszíni bírság) are typically at the lower end of the range, while fines imposed through administrative proceedings (közigazgatási bírság) can reach the upper limits, particularly for repeat offenders.

Penalty Points

In addition to monetary fines, certain infractions now carry penalty points (büntetőpont) under the point-based licensing system. Accumulating 18 penalty points within two years results in a mandatory licence suspension and the requirement to retake the driving examination. The zipper merge violation carries 2 penalty points, while more serious offences — such as speeding by more than 50 km/h — carry up to 6 points.

Impact on Insurance and Civil Liability

The codification of the zipper merge and updated priority rules also has implications for civil liability in the event of traffic accidents. Under Act V of 2013 on the Civil Code (Ptk.), a party who violates a statutory rule of road traffic and thereby causes an accident bears presumed fault.

In practice, this means that:

• If a driver in the continuing lane refuses to allow a merging vehicle to enter and a collision results, the continuing-lane driver may be found predominantly or entirely at fault.
• Conversely, a merging driver who forces entry without waiting for the alternating pattern may bear fault for the resulting collision.

Insurance companies are expected to update their claims assessment guidelines to reflect the new statutory framework.

Enforcement Mechanisms

The Hungarian Police (Rendőrség) has announced that enforcement of the new rules will be phased in:

• Phase 1 (March–June 2026): An awareness campaign, with officers issuing warnings (figyelmeztetés) rather than fines for zipper merge violations.
• Phase 2 (July 2026 onward): Full enforcement with monetary fines and penalty points.

Additionally, fixed and mobile camera systems are being upgraded to detect certain violations, including failure to yield at pedestrian crossings and speeding. While automated detection of zipper merge violations is not yet technically feasible at scale, pilot programmes using AI-powered cameras are being tested in Budapest.

Conclusion

The 2026 KRESZ amendments represent a significant modernisation of Hungary’s traffic regulations. The codification of the zipper merge, coupled with updated priority rules and steeper fines, aims to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, and enhance road safety. Motorists should familiarise themselves with the new rules promptly, as full enforcement will commence in mid-2026.

If you have been fined under the new traffic rules or are involved in a traffic accident where the application of the amended rules is in dispute, it is advisable to seek legal counsel to assess your rights and options.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice tailored to your specific situation, please contact our office.