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.

austriaiceland

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	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:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

austria:

Electronic signs display current limits.

iceland:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	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:

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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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