Austria vs. Iceland: Driving Differences Explained
Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations between Austria and Iceland to enhance your travel safety. Key distinctions include speed limits—higher in Austria—and varying rules on lane markings and overtaking. Understanding these unique driving practices will help ensure a smoother and safer journey in either country.
Lanes
| Austria | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress. | 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 on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
iceland:
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.
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
austria:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may also be mailed. | Yes |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Austria | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | N/A |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | N/A |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | N/A |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Icelandic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
iceland:
N/A
Horn Usage: Penalties
austria:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
austria:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Austria | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Austria | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
austria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Alcohol
| Austria | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
iceland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
austria:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Austria | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
austria:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
austria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Austria | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame