Driving in Austria vs. Myanmar: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Austria and Myanmar, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact safety on the journey. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol tolerance, understanding these variations is crucial for a secure driving experience abroad. Join us as we explore the essential contrasts and prepare you for a safe adventure in these two diverse countries.
Lanes
| Austria | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Marks the 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 Left | Yes | No, overtaking is on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| 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.
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
myanmar:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
austria:
Yes
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
austria:
Use rightmost lane.
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
austria:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
austria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
austria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
myanmar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
myanmar:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
myanmar:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
austria:
50 km/h
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
myanmar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
myanmar:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
myanmar:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
myanmar:
70 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
myanmar:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
myanmar:
Yes
Signals
| Austria | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in Myanmar |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Burmese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
myanmar:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
Turns
| Austria | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Prohibited unless permitted by signs |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
Documentation
| Austria | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Austria | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, more common in cities |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
austria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
austria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Austria | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.07% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common; often during festivals |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to arrest and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
austria:
0.05%
myanmar:
0.07%
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
myanmar:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
myanmar:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
austria:
Can result in license suspension
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
Emergency Services
| Austria | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 199 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Available through some insurance providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
austria:
112
myanmar:
199
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
myanmar:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fine enforced; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines for usage while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applied for violations |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Possible; else must be paid at office |
| 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
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay