Driving Differences: Austria vs. Serbia Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Austria and Serbia. From speed limits and lane markings to alcohol thresholds and emergency contacts, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring safe travel. This comparison highlights key variations, empowering drivers to navigate with confidence while abroad.
Lanes
| Austria | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
serbia:
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.
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 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 |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Austria | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in Serbia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Serbian; 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.
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
serbia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Austria | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Austria | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
austria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Alcohol
| Austria | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
austria:
0.05%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
serbia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Austria | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | 1987 |
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
serbia:
1987
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
austria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay