Driving in Hungary vs. Norway: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the driving regulations of Hungary and Norway, notable disparities emerge that can impact road safety for travelers. Hungary's approach emphasizes strict speed limits and clear lane markings, while Norway introduces unique practices such as variable speed limits and high-occupancy lanes. Understanding these distinctions is essential for a secure journey in either country.
Lanes
| Hungary | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for separating traffic in opposite directions. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except in special cases. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Rare | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hungary:
Used for separating traffic in opposite directions.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
hungary:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Right
hungary:
Not allowed except in special cases.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
hungary:
List length: 4
norway:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
hungary:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'.
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
hungary:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hungary:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Rare
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs.
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Hungary | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; issued by traffic police | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
hungary:
50 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hungary:
20-30 km/h
norway:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hungary:
90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hungary:
70 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
70-80 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hungary:
130 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hungary:
80 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hungary:
Yes; issued by traffic police
norway:
Yes
Signals
| Hungary | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepares traffic for a green signal. | Not used in Norway |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply. | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hungarian; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hungary:
Prepares traffic for a green signal.
norway:
Not used in Norway
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hungary:
Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply.
norway:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
hungary:
Hungarian; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
hungary:
Triangular with a red border
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Hungary | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; only allowed at designated areas. | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
hungary:
Not allowed.
norway:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
hungary:
Restricted; only allowed at designated areas.
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Hungary | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the license plate or windshield | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hungary:
Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hungary:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hungary:
Displayed on the license plate or windshield
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
norway:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Hungary | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Limited use | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hungary:
Limited use
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
hungary:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks
norway:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hungary:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hungary | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe; license suspension is a possibility | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
hungary:
Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
hungary:
Severe; license suspension is a possibility
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Emergency Services
| Hungary | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 107 | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or specific insurance hotline | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
hungary:
107
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hungary:
188 or specific insurance hotline
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Hungary | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Severe fines and potential demerit points | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online | Yes, typically required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
hungary:
Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
hungary:
Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hungary:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
hungary:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hungary:
Severe fines and potential demerit points
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
hungary:
Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
hungary:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay