Austrian vs Romanian Driving: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Austria and Romania, it's essential to be aware of the unique regulations each country imposes. Key distinctions include speed limits, signaling practices, and lane usage, which can significantly impact your travel experience. Understanding these variances ensures a safer and more informed journey abroad.
Lanes
| Austria | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| 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.
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
romania:
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.
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
austria:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 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: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| 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. | Yes, common practice |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Austria | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in Romania |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
romania:
Not used in Romania
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
romania:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
austria:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Austria | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Austria | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
austria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Austria | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
austria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| Austria | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
austria:
0.05%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
romania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Emergency Services
| Austria | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
austria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
austria:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist