Page 358 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

356  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Travelling by Car triangle and a fluorescent safety
vest; the latter two must be
Austria’s dramatic scenery and varied landscape make deployed, by law, at the scene
driving a real pleasure. Crisscrossing the country, passing of an accident. In winter, it is
snow-capped mountains and winding along country lanes, obligatory to have winter tyres
are motorways (Autobahns), long-distance roads and and snow chains, which are
essential for driving on the
country roads. Motorways are marked with the letter “A”, mountain roads.
for Autobahn, while European motorway routes are marked
with “E”. Throughout, the road surfaces are in good Roads and Signposts
condition and routes are well-signposted. Fuel – both gas
and diesel – is less expensive than in France or Britain, and Motorways (Autobahnen) and
the slip roads leading to them
traffic is generally calm.
are signposted with white
lettering on blue boards; on
official maps in Austria, motor­
ways are shown as yellow lines
between two thinner lines. An
inn near a junction is indicated
by a short sign with black
lettering on white background.
Fernstrassen (long­distance
roads) and Bundesstrassen
(federal roads) are marked
in red, and Landstrassen
(country roads) in yellow.
On the road, traffic signs are
black­and­white. The written
ones you may need to know
are: Stau – traffic jam, Schnee –
The spectacular Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse (see pp284–5) snow, Umleitung – diversion,
and Baustelle – road works.
Driving in Austria roads are situated at high All other road signs follow the
Visitors arriving by car can altitudes. You will also be asked European standard.
use any of a number of border to pay a separate charge for
crossings. There are no border going across Alpine passes Road Traffic Regulations
checks; Austria is within the and through tunnels.
Schengen Area (26 European In Austria, motorists drive
countries that have abolished on the right­hand side of
border controls) and is What to Take the road. The speed limit on
surrounded by other Visitors travelling by car in motorways is 130 km/h
Schengen states. Austria need to carry a valid (81 mph), and on other roads
A toll is charged on the motor­ passport and driver’s licence 100 km/h (62 mph). In towns
ways and some other fast­traffic as well as their vehicle’s regis­ and built­up areas the limit is
roads (in urban areas as well as tration document and insurance 50 km/h (31 mph), but only
the countryside). It is collected policy. Non­EU drivers need an 30 km/h (19 mph) in Graz.
via a pre­paid disc, known as international driving licence. Cars with caravans are
a vignette or Autobahn pickerl, The vehicle must be equipped restricted to 100 km/h (62 mph)
which can be bought online at with a first­aid box, a safety on motorways. Speeding
tolltickets.com before you travel.
Short­term visitors can buy a
sticker for a ten­day period for
around €9; a sticker for two
months costs around €26; and
an annual pass about €86.
Stick the sticker to the top­
left corner of your car wind­
screen. It will allow free access
to all national motorways and
urban freeways. There are
limitations: it does not entitle
the driver to use any private
pay­roads, of which, fortunately,
there are very few; usually such A toll station at the entrance to a pay-road in the mountains

356-357_EW_Austria.indd 356 12/09/17 2:46 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.6)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm