Until what age should your child be in a child seat? How fast can you drive in Denmark and what are the traffic rules for bicycles? You can read it on this page. The traffic rules in Denmark are sometimes slightly different than in your home country. We list the most important general rules for you.

Denmark traffic rules in general

• Some important general traffic rules are listed here, including a number of traffic rules that may differ from the ones in your home country.

Drive safely

Driving under the influence

• The maximum permitted blood alcohol level is 0.5 per mille.
• Driving under the influence of drugs is prohibited.

Mobile phone

• Drivers of vehicles (including cyclists) are prohibited from holding a mobile phone while driving.
• Hands-free calling is allowed.

Basic traffic rules

• You have to drive on the right and overtake on the left.

Priority

• Drivers from the right have right of way at an intersection unless otherwise indicated by road signs or signs.
• On mountain roads and other sloping roads, ascending traffic has priority over descending traffic.
• A sign with an inverted orange Y on the highway means that two highways converge. Drivers must give way to other drivers in the merging lane according to the zip principle.

Roundabout

• Drivers driving on a roundabout have priority over drivers entering a roundabout. All roundabouts in Denmark have priority signs and / or shark teeth indicating that drivers have right of way on the roundabout.

Overtaking

• Overtaking is prohibited in places where it can be dangerous, such as around bends, on crossings and on hills.

Parking

• It is forbidden to park on the left side of the road (against the direction of travel), also in parking spaces on the left. You may park on the left in a one-way street.
• It is forbidden to park within 10 m of an intersection.
• In most larger cities you can park for a maximum of one hour. Parking machines and parking discs are also used.
• Paid parking is available in Copenhagen (from Monday 8 am to Saturday 5 pm). See international.kk.dk/transport for more information.

Light and sound signals

• Drivers are required to use their hazard lights on motorways to warn other road users of sudden traffic jams or other hazards, such as accidents.
• In the city limits, sounding signals are only permitted in the event of an emergency or danger.
• Unnecessary use, also outside the city limits, is punishable.

Breakdown or accident

• In the event of a breakdown or an accident, the driver must use a warning triangle. This must be placed approximately 100 m on the car (fast) road and approximately 50 m behind the vehicle on other roads.
• In an accident that has resulted in physical injury, the driver is obliged to call the police.

• A: The speed limit is 40 km / h in the center of Copenhagen.
• B: A maximum speed of 90 km / h may apply on certain road sections. This maximum speed is indicated by signs.
• C: The maximum speed is indicated by signs (a lower maximum speed is also possible).
• When the road surface is wet, drivers must adjust their speed so that other road users are not splashed.

Speed camera signaling

• The taking and use of radar detection equipment is prohibited.
• As far as known, the use of equipment with signaling for fixed speed cameras or section controls (such as navigation equipment and telephones) is permitted.

Traffic rules car

Lighting

• The use of dipped beam or daytime running lights (including LED) during the day is mandatory.
• Note: In tunnels, in low light and in poor visibility, daytime running light is not sufficient and dipped headlights must be used.

Children

• Children under 3 years of age may only be transported in an approved and appropriate child seat. Also, they may not be carried in the back seat of a 1989 or earlier year vehicle without seat belts fitted.
• Children 3 years and older who are less than 1.35 m tall must be carried in an approved and appropriate child seat or on an approved and appropriate booster seat.
• If a child is transported with the back forward in a child seat in the front, the airbag must be deactivated.
• It is not allowed to transport three children in the back seat if only two seat belts are present.

Cargo load

Cargo must be marked in the following cases:

• When the load of a vehicle extends more than 1 m forwards or backwards.
• If the load protrudes more than 15 cm in width from the side of the vehicle. The maximum width of a vehicle including load is 2.55 m excluding mirrors.
• You can mark protruding cargo by attaching a white cloth, a reflector or in the dark a light (front white, rear red) to the most protruding point.
• A bicycle carrier with bicycles does not need to be marked if this load does not exceed the permissible maximum dimensions of the vehicle.

Traffic rules caravan and trailer

Dimensions, maximums

• A: Any bicycle carrier on the back is included in the length.

Mirrors

• Cars towing a caravan must always be equipped with exterior mirrors on both sides.

Extra wide trailer

• To transport a trailer wider than 2.55 m, a special permit must be obtained from a branch of the Danish police. This determines whether and how the trailer may be transported.
• Often there are also requirements for the towing vehicle. In principle, this should be a truck in Denmark and a passenger car is not allowed to tow a trailer that is too wide.
• The department responsible for this can be reached via sjyl-ukatransport@politi.dk. See also politi.dk and trafikstyrelsen.dk for more information

Traffic rules moped

• The Danish stor knallert (large moped, also called knallert 45) can be compared with the moped in terms of maximum speed of 45 km / h, but the same traffic rules apply as for motorcycles. However, this moped is not allowed to drive on motorways or roads.
• The Danish lille knallert (small moped, also called knallert 30) can be compared with the light moped in terms of maximum speed of 30 km / h; the same traffic rules apply to small mopeds as to bicycles.

Helmet

• Wearing a helmet is mandatory for drivers of all types of mopeds. Note: So light-moped riders must also wear a helmet in Denmark.

Lighting

• All mopeds in Denmark must also use dipped headlights during the day.

Passengers

• It is forbidden to bring a passenger on the moped.

Trailer

• A trailer may be attached to a store knallert, but not to a lille knallert.

Traffic rules bicycle

Helmet

• It is not mandatory to wear a helmet.

Mobile phone

• Cyclists are prohibited from holding a mobile phone while driving.
• Hands-free calling is allowed.

Lighting and other requirements

• A bicycle must have fixed lights. The light on the front of the bicycle must have the color white or yellow and the color red on the back of the bicycle.The bicycle must have a red reflector at the rear, a white reflector at the front and yellow reflectors on the pedals.
• The tires must have a reflective strip. If not, the wheels (rims) must have at least two yellow or orange reflectors fitted.
• The bicycle must also be equipped with properly functioning brakes and a bell.

Passengers

• It is prohibited to transport a passenger on a bicycle.
• Adult cyclists are allowed to transport a maximum of two children under the age of 8 in child seats on the bicycle.
• Two children of any age may be transported in a bicycle trailer for children.

Cycling children

• Children under the age of 6 are only allowed to cycle on public roads accompanied by someone aged 15 or older.

Trailer

• It is allowed to ride with a bicycle to which a trailer is attached.

Cycling under influence

• If a cyclist is visibly intoxicated and can no longer control the bicycle properly, a fine may be imposed.

Place on the road

• When there is a cycle path, cyclists must use it.
• Where there are no cycle paths, cyclists should ride on the right-hand side of the road as much as possible.
• Also at intersections and in bends, cyclists must continue to drive on the far right of the road and are therefore not allowed to lane ahead. Cyclists are only allowed to turn when oncoming traffic is not hindered.

Electric bike

• For a standard electric bicycle (elcykel) with pedal assistance up to 25 km / h that has a power of up to 250 watts, the same rules apply as for a regular bicycle.
• Wearing a bicycle helmet is not mandatory, but is advised.
• Electric bicycles should use the cycle path wherever possible.

Speedpedelec

• For an electric bicycle with pedal assistance up to 45 km / h and a power of up to 4000 watts, special rules have applied in Denmark since 1 July 2018 (this is a pilot project). These rules largely correspond to those for regular bicycles, with the main exceptions being the minimum age, the obligation to wear a helmet and the obligation to use light during the day.
• The minimum age for driving a speed pedelec is 15 years and children aged 15-17 years must also be in possession of a moped driving license. Drivers of 18 years and older do not need to have a driving license to ride a speed pedelec.
• You must have a liability insurance for your speed pedelec and you must carry the insurance certificate with you.
• The driver of a speed pedelec is obliged to wear a bicycle helmet, but it is recommended to wear a special speed pedelec helmet (standard NTA 8776: 2016), which protects the head better than a regular bicycle helmet.
• The same traffic rules and signs apply to drivers of a speed pedelec as to drivers of a normal bicycle. With a speed pedelec you should therefore also ride on the cycle path where possible.
• You are obliged to also use light during the day.
• It is forbidden to transport passengers on a speed pedelec. You are therefore not allowed to transport children in the child seat on the back of the speed pedelec.
• You are not allowed to hang a trailer behind the speed pedelec.

Particularities

Stop sign

• In Denmark it is not only mandatory to indicate with your hand that you want to turn, but also to indicate that you are going to stop by lifting your left arm with a flat hand.

Traffic rules motorbike

Helmet

• The wearing of a helmet is mandatory for the driver and passenger.
• The driver and passenger (s) of a trike and a quad without a closed body must wear a helmet.

Lighting

• The use of dipped headlights during the day is mandatory.

Passengers

• Carrying a passenger is permitted provided the vehicle is fitted with footrests.
• Children 5 years and older and less than 1.35 m tall must be transported on the motorcycle in an appropriate child seat and must wear a helmet.
• It is forbidden to transport children under the age of 5 on the motorcycle.
• Children under 5 years old may be transported in a sidecar in a child seat that is suitable for them and fitted with safety belts.

Trailer

• It is allowed to connect a trailer to a motorcycle.
• An engine with a cylinder capacity of more than 125 cc may tow a trailer that is not heavier than 150 kg, not wider than 1 m and not longer than 2.5 m.

Traffic jam

• In a traffic jam, motorcyclists are not allowed to drive between the lanes with slow-moving or stationary vehicles.

Winter tires

Winter tires

• Recommended in winter conditions – The use of winter tires is not mandatory, but recommended in winter conditions.
• If winter tires are used, they must be fitted on all wheels.
• We recommend that you use winter tires with the snowflake symbol (3PMSF).
• Note: In Germany, driving on winter tires is mandatory in winter conditions.

Snow chains

• Permitted – The use of snow chains is permitted, provided they do not damage the road surface.

Studded tires

• Allowed in the winter period – The use of studded tires is allowed from November 1 to April 15.
• If studded tires are used, they must be fitted to all wheels and also those of any trailer.

Road signs

• The road signs in Denmark hardly differ from those in other Western European countries.
• A rectangular white sign with a black silhouette of a village or townscape and a place name indicates the start of the city limits area. The same sign with a slanting red line indicates the end of the city limits area.

Car and motorcycle

• Signs for signage along motorways are green with white letters, signs along many motorways are blue with white letters and signs along other roads are white with red letters. Motorway exits are indicated on blue signs with white letters.
• A square sign with a brown background depicting a white flower with a yellow heart indicates a tourist route.
• A rectangular sign with a white background on which two red arrows merge into one arrow means that two lanes converge and that road users must alternately merge, ie zip.
• A round white sign with a red border and a black arrow curving to the left (or right) with a diagonal red line through it means: No turn left (or right).
• A rectangular white sign with a narrow red border, a black image of a car, a small blue field with a white P and a thick black line at the bottom followed by a narrower hatched line indicates that it is allowed to park a car on the pavement. If the same sign shows a thick black line followed by a slightly higher narrow black line, the sign indicates that it is allowed to partially park a car on the sidewalk.

Bicycle and moped

• A round white sign with a red border and a red slash with a black image of a bicycle and a black P indicates a parking ban for bicycles.
• Blue rectangular signs with a white vertical line ending in a red block indicating a dead end may contain small white images of a bicycle and / or pedestrians to indicate a continuous cycle or pedestrian path.
• A rectangular white sign with a red border with a black image of a bicycle on it, an arrow pointing to the right and the text Undtaget (Exception), indicates that only cyclists are allowed to turn right at a red traffic light.
• A rectangular white sign with a blue field on which a white bicycle and the text Cykelgade (Fietsstraat) are depicted with the black text Zone below it indicates a zone that is reserved for bicycles and mopeds. If other vehicles are allowed in the cycle street by means of signs, they are usually not allowed to go faster than 30 km / h and must take special account of cyclists and light-moped riders.
• A round orange sign with a large white C is used to indicate a Supercykelsti (Super cycle path). This is a cycle path that crosses municipal boundaries and is specially designed for bicycle commuters.

Indications road signs Denmark

• Cykelgade – Bicycle Street
• Ensrettet – One-way street
• Fartgrænse – Speed limit
• Hold til højre  -Keep right
• Højre – Right
• Hovedvej – Highway
• Indkørsel forbudt – No driving
• Omvej – Detour
• Parking forbudt – Parking prohibited
• Se efter tog – Watch out for trains
• Narrow vej – Narrow road
• Undtaget – Exception
• Venstre – Links
• Vige Give – way

Environmental zones

• In Denmark there are environmental zones in Copenhagen & Frederiksberg, Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg.
• The following diesel vehicles must be registered in advance at mz.miljoezoner.dk/en/create/step1 to be allowed to drive in these environmental zones:
  • Vans, not older than January 1, 2007, with a maximum authorized mass not exceeding 3500 kg.
  • Trucks, not older than October 1, 2009, with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3500 kg.
  • Large motor homes and buses, not older than October 1, 2009, with a maximum permissible mass of more than 3500 kg and with more than 9 seats including the driver.
• Diesel vehicles older than mentioned above are not allowed in the environmental zones. If these diesel vehicles are fitted with a later built-in particulate filter, they are eligible for registration.
• Diesel vehicles older than thirty years with a foreign registration number are admitted and exempt from registration.
• The rules will be tightened in July 2022 and 2025.
• The registration has replaced the environmental badge (milømærke).
• For more information, see billionoezoner.dk and eng.mst.dk/air-noise-waste/air/reducing-traffic-emissions/danish-low-emission-zones.

Here you will find more information about Denmark.