From 14 December tightening up on alcohol, drugs and mobile phones, new rules for novice drivers. Here are all the new rules behind the wheel

Tightening up for those who drive while talking on their mobile phone without using a speakerphone or earpiece. It starts with a fine of 250 to 1,000 euro, with a short suspension of the driving licence from 15 days to two months. Penalties that are aggravated in the event of a repeat offence: from 350 to 1,400 euros and licence suspension from one to three months if the offence is committed for the second time in a two-year period. Please note: the accessory short suspension of the driving licence is seven days if the licence balance is less than 20 points and 15 days if the points are less than ten. If the use of a mobile phone is deemed to be the cause of a traffic accident, the short suspension is doubled.

The circulation on scooters is restricted to urban areas with a maximum speed limit of 50 km/h only. They can no longer circulate in suburban areas. Scooters must have a speed limiter and may only circulate at 6 km/h in pedestrian areas and at a maximum of 20 km/h in other areas.

May enter urban cycle paths and pedestrian areas. Driving on pavements is prohibited. Parking on pavements is not permitted, except in areas designated by municipalities. Riders of scooters must wear a helmet and have third-party liability insurance, brakes on both wheels and indicators.

For the use of the identification mark - the number plate - we will have to wait for the implementing decrees. Penalties range from 20 to 800 euro for scooters with deviating characteristics. Seizure for confiscation if the scooter has an engine developing more than 1 kW of power. Penalties ranging from 100 to 400 euros for riding without insurance or without number plates (for this measure we must wait for the implementing decrees). 50 to 250 euros for driving on the wrong side of the road, on pavements, without a helmet or at night without lights on.

Stronger penalties for those who abandon animals in the street. The new Road Safety Act amending the Highway Code has provided for stiffer penalties for those who abandon animals in the street. It increases by one-third the penalty already provided for in the Criminal Code for anyone who abandons pets (up to 1 year in prison and a fine of 1,000 to 10,000 euro) if the act occurs on the road or appurtenances. And if the abandonment of an animal causes a road accident resulting in the death or personal injury of one or more persons, the penalties provided for the offences of road homicide and serious or very serious road injuries apply, with imprisonment from 3 months to 1 year for serious injuries. From 1 year to 3 years for very serious injuries and from 2 years to 7 years for road homicide. Ancillary penalties apply, which, depending on the seriousness, include suspension (from 6 months to 1 year) or revocation of the driving licence.

Crackdown on wild parking. In particular, parking in reserved spaces for the disabled, in reserved lanes or at public transport stops will cost almost twice as much for cars and two-wheelers. Occupying parking spaces reserved for the disabled will cost 165 euro (previously 80 euro) for motorbikes and mopeds and 330 euro (compared to the previous 165 euro) for all other vehicles.

On the other hand, the fine for parking in lanes or stops reserved for public transport with mopeds or two-wheelers will rise from EUR 41 to EUR 87, and from EUR 87 to EUR 165 with cars and other vehicles. Crossing or stopping at a level crossing with the barrier lowered or signal activated will result in an administrative fine of €200 (compared to the previous €87). On stretches where the Traffic Police is regulating, by slowing it down, the flow of traffic, anyone who overtakes the 'safety car' or does not activate the four arrows will be punished with a fine of between 167 and 665 euros, and a licence suspension of between 1 and 3 months. If there is a driver at the wheel who has held his licence for less than three years, the suspension ranges from 3 to 6 months.