Traffic Rules for a Tyrol Vacation: An Overview of the Most Important Regulations

On some roads in North and East Tyrol, a toll is required, including for example on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, the Panorama Road, or the Kitzbüheler Horn. For cars and motorcycles, the maximum speed limit in urban areas is 50 km/h, on expressways or rural areas, the speed limit is 100 km/h, on highways it is 130 km/h.

In Austria, the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.5 or 0.1 for truck and bus drivers or holders of a probationary license. If stopped and the blood alcohol level is above the limit, a fine must be expected. Furthermore, using a mobile phone while driving is prohibited, unless using a hands-free device.

In Austria, a reflective vest must be carried in the car, which can be either orange, red, or yellow and must comply with ÖNORM EN 471. Outside of a built-up area, you must wear it when leaving your vehicle and entering a roadway. In addition, every driver must also carry a warning triangle and a first aid kit.

There is also a seat belt requirement in vehicles on all seats, children who are under 1.50 meters tall or under 14 years old must sit in a special child seat in the car. These seats must be equipped with a seat belt or have an appropriate restraint system.

Motorcyclists are required to wear a helmet and, like cars, need a vignette on a highway. Even during the day, motorcyclists must use low beam headlights. In addition, particularly loud motorcycles are not allowed to travel in the districts of Imst and Reutte to the German border between April 15 and October 31.

Vehicle Documents and Fuel

Foreign travelers entering Tyrol, Austria, need a registration certificate or a national driver's license. Travelers from outside the EU must carry a German-language translation of their driver's license or an international driver's license.

Parking and Stopping

A continuous yellow line at the edge of the road indicates a no-stopping or no-parking zone. A white line, on the other hand, indicates legal parking spaces. A short-term parking zone is indicated by signs "Beginning or End of Short-term Parking Zone," and additional prohibitions may apply within such zones. In a short-term parking zone, you usually need a parking ticket, which can be obtained from a machine, a tobacco shop, gas stations, or train stations. Additionally, it is possible to purchase parking tickets via mobile phone.