Driving in Austria vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Austria and Sri Lanka, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that greatly influence their travel experience. Key contrasts include side of the road, speed limits, and the use of road markings. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a safe and smooth journey in these diverse countries.
Lanes
| Austria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Marks the right 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 Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
austria:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
austria:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
austria:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
austria:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
austria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
austria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 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; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Austria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
sri lanka:
Signal when exiting
Hand Signals: Common Usage
austria:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Austria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Austria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | International Driving Permit 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 | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
austria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Austria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
austria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
austria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Austria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
austria:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Austria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
austria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Austria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
austria:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay