A Driving Comparison: Austria vs. Senegal for Safety
As you prepare for your journey, understanding the unique road regulations in Austria and Senegal is crucial for a secure driving experience. Key distinctions include speed limits, signaling practices, and alcohol tolerance levels. While Austria enforces stricter laws, such as a 0.05% alcohol limit, Senegal adopts a zero-tolerance approach, emphasizing the importance of adapting your driving habits accordingly.
Lanes
| Austria | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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.
senegal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
senegal:
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.
senegal:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
senegal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
senegal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 110 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 | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may also be mailed. | Yes |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
senegal:
110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
senegal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
senegal:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
senegal:
Yes
Signals
| Austria | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in Senegal |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
senegal:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Austria | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Not commonly allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Austria | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Road Etiquette
| Austria | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
austria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
austria:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Alcohol
| Austria | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
austria:
0.05%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
senegal:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Austria | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 18 or 17 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 17 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
austria:
112
senegal:
18 or 17
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
senegal:
17
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
senegal:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | 10,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Varies; significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Yes; often required immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
senegal:
10,000 CFA
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days