Driving in Austria vs. Luxembourg: Key Safety Differences
Driving in Austria and Luxembourg presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should be aware of. Key distinctions include lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol tolerance levels, which significantly impact road safety. Understanding these variations will help ensure a secure and enjoyable journey through these beautiful European nations.
Lanes
| Austria | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Not typically used. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress. | Not typically used. |
| 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
luxembourg:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
luxembourg:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
luxembourg:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 75 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 75 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may also be mailed. | Yes |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
luxembourg:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
luxembourg:
75 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
luxembourg:
75 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
luxembourg:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
luxembourg:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
luxembourg:
Yes
Signals
| Austria | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in Luxembourg |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | French, German, and Luxembourgish; 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.
luxembourg:
Not used in Luxembourg
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
luxembourg:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
luxembourg:
French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
luxembourg:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Austria | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
luxembourg:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
luxembourg:
Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise
Documentation
| Austria | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted; must have a valid national license |
| 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; regular intervals |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
luxembourg:
Accepted; must have a valid national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
austria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
luxembourg:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
luxembourg:
Mandatory; regular intervals
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
luxembourg:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Alcohol
| Austria | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
luxembourg:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
luxembourg:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
luxembourg:
Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
luxembourg:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
austria:
Can result in license suspension
luxembourg:
Results in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Austria | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Contact your insurance provider or automobile club |
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
luxembourg:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
luxembourg:
Contact your insurance provider or automobile club
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Up to €145 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Up to €145 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Varies; severe penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Yes; fines often collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; usually a specific period |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
luxembourg:
Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
luxembourg:
Up to €145
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
luxembourg:
Up to €145
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
luxembourg:
Varies; severe penalties
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
luxembourg:
Yes; fines often collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
luxembourg:
Varies; usually a specific period