Driving Safety: Austria vs Norway - Key Differences
When it comes to navigating Austria and Norway, understanding the contrasts in road regulations and safety practices is essential for travelers. Key disparities include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol thresholds, which can significantly impact your journey. Equip yourself with this vital knowledge to ensure a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Austria | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
austria:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may also be mailed. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
austria:
50 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
norway:
Yes
Signals
| Austria | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in Norway |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
norway:
Not used in Norway
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
norway:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Austria | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
norway:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Austria | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted with a national driving 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
austria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Austria | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
austria:
0.05%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Emergency Services
| Austria | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Yes, typically required |
| 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
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
austria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay