What is prohibited on motorways in Lithuania
Motorways follow somewhat different rules than city streets or ordinary roads: they are built for fast, uniform traffic, so certain actions and vehicles are prohibited on them. Here is what the Road Traffic Rules ban on motorways and expressways.
The prohibitions
- Slow road users: pedestrians, cyclists, mopeds, horse-drawn carts, riders on horseback and driving livestock are all banned. So are tractors, quads of all kinds and other slow vehicles that cannot reach the minimum speed.
- Stopping: stopping or parking anywhere except designated rest areas or emergency lanes is prohibited. Stopping on the shoulder is allowed only for a genuine emergency (breakdown), with hazard lights on. For a rest or a phone call — service areas only.
- U-turns and reversing: U-turns are strictly prohibited except at specially signed turning points (normally reserved for maintenance services). Reversing is banned too — if you miss an exit, never back up; continue to the next exit.
- Entering or leaving in the wrong place: you may enter and exit only via the designated ramps. Crossing the solid line or the green median to "cut across" is prohibited — use official junctions only.
- Towing: towing with a flexible link (rope) is prohibited on motorways. A broken-down car may be towed only with a rigid bar — or better, call roadside assistance. The ban exists so that fast-moving traffic never meets a slowly dragged car.
- Events and races: sports competitions, car races, processions and other events are prohibited — possible only with separate permits and a closed road.
Other motorway particularities
Higher speed limits apply (cars up to 130 km/h in summer, 110 km/h in winter), dipped headlights are mandatory around the clock, and larger following distances are recommended because of the speeds involved. Driving too slowly without reason is also not allowed — a vehicle that cannot reach 60 km/h does not belong there. More on motorway traffic, safe overtaking and handling emergencies is available in the RoboKET learning materials.