Driving Differences: Austria vs Belgium Explained
When comparing the road regulations of Austria and Belgium, notable variations emerge that impact travelers. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane markings, and the use of indicators at roundabouts. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure and compliant driving experience in either country.
Lanes
| Austria | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress. | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may also be mailed. | No; fines are mailed to the driver |
Urban Areas: Standard
austria:
50 km/h
belgium:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
belgium:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
belgium:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
belgium:
60-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
belgium:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
belgium:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
belgium:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
Signals
| Austria | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Yes; indicates impending green light |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
belgium:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
Turns
| Austria | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Not allowed unless specific signage permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Austria | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted; national driving license sufficient |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof may be required | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
austria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Alcohol
| Austria | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; conducted by police |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Varies by severity of offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
belgium:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
Emergency Services
| Austria | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 101 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance |
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
belgium:
101
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fine of around 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines; points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | No; fines usually mailed to the driver |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay