Driving in Austria vs. Philippines: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Austria and the Philippines, understanding the unique rules and regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include lane markings, speed limits, and vehicle documentation requirements. This comparison highlights crucial variations that can impact your driving experience, ensuring a smoother ride in either country.
Lanes
| Austria | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Marks the left 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 Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
philippines:
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.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
austria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
austria:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
philippines:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may also be mailed. | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
austria:
50 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
austria:
30 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
austria:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
philippines:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Austria | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
philippines:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
philippines:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Austria | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Austria | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof may be required | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
austria:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Austria | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
austria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Alcohol
| Austria | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Emergency Services
| Austria | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
austria:
112
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance