Driving in Austria vs. China: Key Differences Explained

Discover the fascinating contrasts between driving regulations in Austria and China. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol consumption guidelines, this comparison reveals essential variations that affect road safety. While Austria mandates reflective vests, China showcases distinct traffic signals. Familiarize yourself with these crucial distinctions to ensure a secure driving experience abroad.

austriachina

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in austria is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in austria is 86

1.628 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for austria is 1.628 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Austria	China
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.	Separates directions on multi-lane roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.	Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.	Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas	List length: 5	List length: 4
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]	Pedestrian crossings	Railroad crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use rightmost lane.	Use rightmost lane if possible.
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.	Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.	Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Exclusive for bicycles.	Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence	No	Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

austria:

Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.

china:

Separates directions on multi-lane roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

austria:

Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.

china:

Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

Overtaking: On Right

austria:

Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.

china:

Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

austria:

List length: 5

china:

List length: 4

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]

austria:

Pedestrian crossings

china:

Railroad crossings

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

austria:

Use rightmost lane.

china:

Use rightmost lane if possible.

Bus Lanes: Usage

austria:

Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.

china:

Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.

Bus Lanes: Markings

austria:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

china:

Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.

Cycle Lanes: Usage

austria:

Exclusive for bicycles.

china:

Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

austria:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

china:

Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

austria:

china:

Yes

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

austria:

N/A

china:

Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants

Speeds Limits

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	Austria	China
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	100 km/h	70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80-100 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	70-80 km/h	60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	130 km/h	100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	100 km/h	90-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Common; fines may also be mailed.	Yes, especially in urban areas

Urban Areas: Standard

austria:

50 km/h

china:

40-60 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

austria:

100 km/h

china:

70-90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

austria:

80-100 km/h

china:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

austria:

70-80 km/h

china:

60-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

austria:

130 km/h

china:

100-120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

austria:

100 km/h

china:

90-100 km/h

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

austria:

Common; fines may also be mailed.

china:

Yes, especially in urban areas

Signals

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	Austria	China
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.	Not used in China
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
Traffic Signs: Language	German; symbols are standard	Chinese; symbols also used
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red border	Triangular shape with red borders

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

austria:

Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.

china:

Not used in China

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

austria:

Signal when entering and exiting

china:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

austria:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

china:

Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution

Traffic Signs: Language

austria:

German; symbols are standard

china:

Chinese; symbols also used

Traffic Signs: Warning

austria:

Triangular with red border

china:

Triangular shape with red borders

Turns

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	Austria		China
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
U- Turns Allowed	Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it		Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs

Right Turn On Red

austria:

Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light

china:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality

U- Turns Allowed

austria:

Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it

china:

Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs

Documentation

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	Austria	China
Driver's License: Requirement	Valid driver's license required	Valid Chinese driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed	International Driving Permit required for short visits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Yes, proof may be required	Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Driver's License: Requirement

austria:

Valid driver's license required

china:

Valid Chinese driver's license required

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

austria:

Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed

china:

International Driving Permit required for short visits

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

austria:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

china:

International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

austria:

Yes, proof may be required

china:

Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

austria:

Displayed on license plate

china:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

austria:

Mandatory

china:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Road Etiquette

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	Austria		China
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Less frequent use compared to some countries		Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol	Pull over to the right and stop if necessary		Pull over to the side and stop if necessary

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

austria:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

china:

Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

austria:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

china:

Pull over to the side and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Austria	China
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.01%	0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.01%	0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common, especially near bars and clubs
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial; varies by offense	Severe fines, license suspension possible
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and legal penalties

Limits: General Drivers

austria:

0.05%

china:

0.02%

Limits: Professional Drivers

austria:

0.01%

china:

0.00%

Limits: Underage Drivers

austria:

0.01%

china:

0.00%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

austria:

Common

china:

Common, especially near bars and clubs

Enforcement: Fines

austria:

Substantial; varies by offense

china:

Severe fines, license suspension possible

Test Refusal

austria:

Can result in license suspension

china:

Can result in license suspension and legal penalties

Roundabouts

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	Austria		China
Lane Usage: Right	Use for first exit or straight		Use for first exit or straight ahead

Lane Usage: Right

austria:

Use for first exit or straight

china:

Use for first exit or straight ahead

Emergency Services

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	Austria	China
Contact: General Emergency	112	110
Contact: Traffic Police	133	Same as general emergency; 110
Contact: Roadside Assistance	120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

austria:

112

china:

110

Contact: Traffic Police

austria:

133

china:

Same as general emergency; 110

Contact: Roadside Assistance

austria:

120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)

china:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

austria:

Mandatory

china:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Austria	China
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license	Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply	¥50 to ¥200
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, points on license	Fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply, points on license	Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Common	Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
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

china:

Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

austria:

Fines apply

china:

¥50 to ¥200

Common Fines: Phone Use

austria:

Fines apply, points on license

china:

Fines and points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

austria:

Fines apply, points on license

china:

Fines and points on license

Payment: On The Spot

austria:

Common

china:

Possible; fines often paid online or at banks

Payment: Deadline

austria:

Varies; typically 14 days to pay

china:

Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay