Motorway

A motorway is a road marked by a specific traffic sign as a motorway and therefore serves exclusively for fast motor vehicle traffic. The legal foundations are primarily found in the Road Traffic Act (StVO). Furthermore, motorways have separate directional carriageways and are subject to special traffic rules, which differ significantly from those on ordinary roads.

As a general rule, a permissible maximum speed of 130 km per hour applies to motorways. In addition, there are numerous special regulations, such as those regarding permitted traffic, stopping, driving on the hard shoulder, or the formation of an emergency corridor.

Marking of Motorways

Motorways generally begin with a special information sign regulated in the Road Traffic Act. This sign indicates that the special rules for motorways apply from this point onwards.

Conversely, the end of a motorway is indicated by its own traffic sign. From this point, the general regulations for normal roads apply again.

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Permissible Maximum Speed

The permissible maximum speed on Austrian motorways is generally 130 km/h.

However, lower maximum speeds apply to certain types of vehicles. These are regulated in particular in the Motor Vehicle Act Implementing Regulation. For example, buses are generally allowed to drive at a maximum of 100 km/h.

In addition, lower speeds may be ordered by traffic signs, for example at construction sites, in heavy traffic, or at special hazard points.

Driving Too Slowly on Motorways

Drivers are also not permitted to drive arbitrarily slowly on motorways. According to § 20 StVO, drivers must choose their speed so that they do not unnecessarily obstruct the flow of traffic. Anyone who drives significantly slower than the rest of the traffic without a factual reason and thereby endangers or obstructs other road users may be committing an administrative offense.

Although there is no legally defined minimum speed on motorways, driving too slowly can still be unlawful if there is no factual reason and the flow of traffic is consequently obstructed or endangered.

Factual reasons for a lower speed can include, for example:

• bad weather
• heavy traffic
• technical problems with the vehicle
• construction sites or special hazard points

Use of the Motorway

Motorways may only be used by motor vehicles that can reach a design speed of at least 60 km/h. This rule arises from § 46 StVO.

Prohibited Road Users

Use is therefore prohibited for

• Pedestrians
• cyclists
• horse-drawn vehicles
• riders or cattle drives
• slow vehicles without sufficient design speed

Motorways are intended to serve exclusively for fast and safe motor vehicle traffic.

In exceptional cases, persons may enter the motorway. This is permissible if assistance is being provided after a traffic accident or if a hazard point must be secured.

Entering and Exiting Motorways

Access to motorways is generally only permitted via specially marked junctions. Signposts to the motorway usually announce these entrances several hundred meters before an intersection.

When entering the motorway, the acceleration lane must also be used. This allows the driver to reach the speed of the flowing traffic and to merge safely.

Conversely, leaving the motorway may only be done via marked exits. The deceleration lane must be used in each case so that the speed can be reduced in good time.

Before exiting, the driver must also move into the right-hand lane in good time.

Stopping on the Motorway

As a rule, a vehicle must not be stopped on the motorway. An exception exists only if there is an important reason. This rule arises from § 46 StVO.

An important reason may exist in the event of:

• a technical defect
• a traffic accident
• a medical emergency

If a vehicle must be stopped, this should be done on the hard shoulder if possible. The journey must then be continued as quickly as possible.

If the vehicle is no longer roadworthy, it must be towed away and removed from the motorway via the nearest exit.

Read detailed information on towing here.

Prohibited Conduct on the Motorway

The StVO contains several special prohibitions for motorway traffic.

Particularly serious violations include:

• driving against the direction of travel
• turning around on the motorway
• using operational U-turn points without authorization
• unauthorized use of the hard shoulder
• reversing on the motorway
• stopping or parking without an important reason

Driving against the direction of travel constitutes a particularly dangerous act and can lead to the withdrawal of the driving license.

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Emergency Corridor

As soon as traffic on the motorway congests or is only flowing slowly, drivers must generally form an emergency corridor. This obligation arises directly from § 46 StVO.

The emergency corridor allows emergency vehicles to reach the scene of an accident or other emergencies quickly. Therefore, drivers must form the emergency corridor as soon as traffic congestion becomes apparent.

In the case of two lanes, vehicles position themselves so that a clear corridor is created between the left and the right lane. In the case of more than two lanes, drivers form the emergency corridor between the outermost left lane and the adjacent lane.

Other vehicles are generally not permitted to use this emergency corridor, as it is reserved exclusively for emergency vehicles, road service vehicles, and breakdown service vehicles. Violations are strictly punished.

Hard Shoulder

The hard shoulder is a paved area on the right edge of the carriageway and is used exclusively for emergencies. The use of the hard shoulder by normal vehicles is generally prohibited. Exceptions apply, for example, to:

• road service
• breakdown service
• emergency vehicles

On individual motorway sections, however, the hard shoulder may be temporarily opened for traffic. This so-called hard shoulder release is indicated by special lane signals.

Overtaking Rules on the Motorway

On Austrian motorways, the requirement to drive on the right generally applies. Drivers must therefore use the right-hand lane whenever possible. The left-hand lane is primarily for overtaking. Anyone who drives continuously on the left, even though there is sufficient space on the right, commits an administrative offense.

Safe Following Distance

Drivers must maintain a sufficient distance from the vehicle in front. Especially on motorways, this distance is regularly monitored by police distance measurements. An insufficient distance can result in high fines and demerit points in the driving license register.

Motorway Toll Sticker and Tolls

In Austria, motorways and expressways may generally only be used with a valid toll sticker or with a properly paid section toll. This obligation arises from the Federal Road Toll Act.

Motorway Without a Valid Toll Sticker or Toll

Anyone who uses a toll road without a valid toll sticker or without a paid section toll commits an administrative offense. In such cases, ASFINAG first prescribes a substitute toll. If the driver pays this within the deadline, the matter is usually considered settled.

Conversely, if the driver does not pay the substitute toll or if there is a serious violation, the authority initiates administrative penal proceedings. In this case, significantly higher fines are threatened.

Drivers should therefore check before using a motorway or expressway whether they possess a valid toll sticker or must pay a corresponding section toll.

Read detailed information on substitute tolls and penal orders here.

IG-L Speed Limits on Motorways

On some motorway sections, a lower speed limit according to the Air Pollution Control Act (IG-L) applies instead of the normal maximum speed of 130 km per hour.

These restrictions are introduced to reduce air pollution from pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. They are intended in particular to improve air quality in heavily polluted regions.

Typical IG-L speed limits include:

• 100 km/h
• 80 km/h

Such restrictions are marked by their own traffic signs with the suffix “IG-L”.

Special Provisions Regarding Penalties

An important difference from normal speeding violations exists in the penal provisions.

In the event of a speeding violation in an IG-L zone:

• there is no tolerance regulation as with some other measurements
• higher administrative fines can be imposed

Regions with IG-L Restrictions

IG-L speed limits are frequently found on motorways in regions with high air pollution, for example:

• in Tyrol
• in Styria
• in Upper Austria
• in parts of Salzburg

They apply permanently or temporarily on certain motorway sections.

Important for Drivers

As soon as a traffic sign with the suffix IG-L is displayed, drivers must adhere to the speed prescribed there. This rule applies regardless of whether traffic is currently heavy or not.

Exception for Electric Vehicles under IG-L

Electric cars are exempt from certain IG-L speed limits on motorways. This means that they may continue to drive at 130 km/h on such stretches, even though a limit of 100 km/h applies to other vehicles, for example.

The reason for this lies in the purpose of the law. The Air Pollution Control Act is primarily intended to reduce pollutants such as nitrogen oxides. Since purely electric vehicles cause no local exhaust emissions, these restrictions do not apply to them.

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Important Terms in Motorway Traffic

For an understanding of the rules on motorways, some terms of the StVO are particularly important.

Directional Carriageway

A carriageway intended exclusively for traffic in one direction and physically separated from the opposite direction.

Hard Shoulder

The paved area to the right of the lane, intended exclusively for emergencies.

Acceleration Lane

A lane at motorway entrances used for merging into flowing traffic.

Deceleration Lane

A lane at motorway exits used for safely leaving the motorway.

Jurisdictions on Motorways

Different authorities are responsible for various measures on motorways, depending on the area of jurisdiction.

The Federal Minister for Transport issues regulations in particular that concern motorway traffic.

The provincial governments, on the other hand, are primarily responsible for construction measures and for traffic law measures in connection with construction sites.

Traffic monitoring is ultimately carried out by police officers.

Penal Provisions for Violations

Violations of motorway rules can lead to significant administrative fines.

Typical administrative offenses are:

• failure to form an emergency corridor
• unauthorized use of the hard shoulder
• driving against the direction of travel
• stopping without an important reason

In addition to fines, demerit points in the driving license register or, in serious cases, the withdrawal of the driving license may also be threatened.

Your Benefits with Legal Assistance

Traffic law proceedings in connection with motorway violations can be complex. Questions regarding the presentation of evidence, the legality of penal orders, or possible driving license measures are frequently at issue.

Legal assistance offers decisive advantages.

• legal review of penal orders
• representation in administrative penal proceedings
• support in the event of threatened driving license withdrawal
• analysis of the evidence after traffic accidents
• enforcement of claims for damages

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