Driving in Austria vs. Denmark: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the road rules in Austria and Denmark, travelers will discover notable distinctions in regulations and practices. Key differences include speed limits, lane markings, and the use of emergency equipment. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Austria | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress. | Used temporarily in construction zones. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
denmark:
Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
denmark:
Used temporarily in construction zones.
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
denmark:
Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
denmark:
Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
denmark:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
austria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
denmark:
Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
denmark:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 110-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may also be mailed. | Yes, for minor offenses. |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
denmark:
110-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
denmark:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
denmark:
Yes, for minor offenses.
Signals
| Austria | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Used before green. |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Danish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
denmark:
Used before green.
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
denmark:
Danish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Austria | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Not allowed |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign. |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
denmark:
Not allowed
Left Turn: General
austria:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
denmark:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
denmark:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.
Documentation
| Austria | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays |
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
denmark:
Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
austria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
denmark:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
denmark:
Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
denmark:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
denmark:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Austria | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; carried out by the police |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
denmark:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
denmark:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
denmark:
Common; carried out by the police
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
denmark:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Austria | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking any exit other than first |
Signaling: Entering
austria:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
denmark:
Signal left if taking any exit other than first
Emergency Services
| Austria | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | Contact general emergency to report traffic issues |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Contact your insurer or patrol services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
denmark:
Contact general emergency to report traffic issues
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
denmark:
Contact your insurer or patrol services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
denmark:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines apply, use of hands-free required |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Significant fines and possible license points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically within 14 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
denmark:
Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
austria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
denmark:
Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
denmark:
Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
denmark:
Fines apply, use of hands-free required
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
denmark:
Significant fines and possible license points
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
denmark:
Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
denmark:
Varies; typically within 14 days