Driving in Austria vs. Madagascar: Key Differences
When exploring the roadways of Austria and Madagascar, understanding the distinct driving customs and regulations is vital for safety. Key differences emerge in speed limits, lane usage, and traffic signals, with Austria emphasizing strict adherence to rules while Madagascar presents a more relaxed approach. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Austria | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Typically not used. |
| 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. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits are fixed. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
madagascar:
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.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
austria:
Use rightmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
austria:
Yes
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
austria:
Yes
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
austria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
austria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
austria:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
madagascar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may also be mailed. | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
austria:
30 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
madagascar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
austria:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Austria | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not commonly used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
madagascar:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
austria:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
austria:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
austria:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
austria:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
austria:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Austria | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Austria | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
austria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Austria | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
austria:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
austria:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
austria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
austria:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
austria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Austria | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
austria:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
austria:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Austria | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
austria:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
austria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Austria | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
austria:
112
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
austria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority