The same rules apply when driving at work as in private life. The main law is Act No. 361/2000 Sb. on road traffic (Czech: zákon o provozu na pozemních komunikacích). Fines and points for an offence during a business trip are paid by you, not the company.
Maximum permitted speeds
For a car up to 3,500 kg, § 18 sets these limits unless a sign says otherwise:
- in a built-up area 50 km/h,
- outside a built-up area 90 km/h,
- on a road for motor vehicles 110 km/h,
- on a motorway 130 km/h.
Signs can lower the speed and in some places raise it. The basic rule always applies (§ 18(1)): you drive only as fast as lets you stop within the distance you can see. In rain, fog, on ice or in the dark, the safe speed is lower than the maximum permitted. With snow chains on the vehicle you may drive at most 50 km/h.
Alcohol and drugs
In Czechia, zero tolerance applies in practice. The law (§ 5(2)) forbids drinking alcohol or taking another addictive substance while driving, and driving immediately after taking it or at a time when you may still be under its influence. Alcohol leaves the body slowly, so the morning after an evening party you may still be affected. Refusing an examination is a separate offence. Your employer can also ask you to take a test (see the previous lesson).
Phone and attention
Under § 7(1)(c) you must not hold a phone in your hand or in any other way while driving, nor any other device for calls or recording. You may call only hands-free. Even so, calls and messages distract you, so it is sensible not to call at all while driving. Set the navigation before you set off. Under § 5(1)(b), a driver must give full attention to driving.
Seat belts and children
- You must wear your belt while driving in a seat that is required to have one (§ 6(1)(a)).
- A child under 150 cm and under 36 kg is carried in a child seat suited to their weight and size (§ 6(1)(c)).
- A child taller than 150 cm or heavier than 36 kg only needs to be belted with the seat belt (§ 6(1)(e)).
- You must not carry a child under 3 years in a vehicle that has no restraint system.
The penalty point system
For certain offences, points are entered in the driver register (Czech: bodový systém). The list is in the annex to Act No. 361/2000 Sb. Examples:
- holding a phone in your hand while driving: 4 points,
- driving without a seat belt: 4 points,
- exceeding the speed limit by 10 km/h or more: 2 points (more for a greater excess),
- endangering another driver when turning: 4 points.
When you reach 12 points, you lose your driving entitlement (§ 123c). Without it you must not drive at work either. Your employer does not have to know about your points, but if you lose your entitlement you should tell them, because you must not drive.
Motorway vignette and winter equipment
On toll motorways and roads you must have paid the time-based charge. The motorway vignette (Czech: dálniční známka) is electronic, tied to the registration plate (Czech: SPZ), and is bought for 1 year, 30 days, 10 days or 1 day. There is no paper sticker. Before you set off, check that the company vehicle has a vignette.
In winter § 40a applies: from 1 November to 31 March, if the road has a continuous layer of snow, ice or frost, or this can be expected during the journey, you may drive only on winter tyres with a tread of at least 4 mm. So it is not a duty to have winter tyres for the whole season in any weather, but a duty to have them on the wheels as soon as snow or ice threatens. In practice it is simplest to keep them on the car for the whole winter season.
Summary
- Speeds: 50 / 90 / 110 / 130, always adapted to conditions.
- Alcohol: zero tolerance in practice, phone: hands-free only.
- Seat belt, and a child seat for children under 150 cm and 36 kg.
- 12 points = loss of driving entitlement.
- Electronic motorway vignette, winter tyres with 4 mm tread in snow and ice between 1 Nov and 31 Mar.