Driving in Austria vs Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Austria and Saudi Arabia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact their journey. From speed limits and lane markings to alcohol restrictions and emergency contacts, this comprehensive comparison sheds light on crucial contrasts that ensure safe travel in these two diverse nations.
Lanes
| Austria | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| 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.
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
saudi arabia:
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.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
austria:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
austria:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
austria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
austria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
austria:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 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. | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
austria:
50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
austria:
30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Austria | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
saudi arabia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Austria | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Austria | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Road Etiquette
| Austria | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
austria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Austria | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
austria:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
austria:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
austria:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Austria | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
austria:
112
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
austria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay