Driving Differences: Austria vs. Ireland Explained
When navigating the roads of Austria and Ireland, drivers will encounter notable variations that can impact their travel experience. From the driving side—right in Austria and left in Ireland—to differing speed limits and signaling rules, understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey. Equip yourself with this vital knowledge before hitting the road!
Lanes
| Austria | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress. | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtake on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | Yes, standard overtaking side. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
austria:
Right
ireland:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
austria:
Yes
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
austria:
Use rightmost lane.
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
ireland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
ireland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 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. | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
ireland:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
ireland:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
ireland:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
ireland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
ireland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
Signals
| Austria | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Indicates the light is about to turn green. |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangles with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
austria:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
austria:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
Turns
| Austria | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
ireland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Austria | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof may be required | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Austria | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
austria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Austria | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Random breath testing is common. |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
ireland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Austria | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
austria:
112
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | €60 fine and two penalty points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | €60 fine and three penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | €80 and three penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay