Austria is a landlocked state with a population of over 8.8 million people. It is bordered by Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, Czech Republic, and Switzerland. Austria has a mountainous terrain with its highest point being about 12,461 ft above sea level with almost 70% of the country being over 1,640 ft.
From a transport perspective, managing the road infrastructure is key to maintaining the fluidity of the movement of goods around the country and on beyond its borders. The company that is responsible for ensuring that the infrastructure functions well is ASFINAG.
ASFINAG is an Austrian publicly owned corporation, which plans, finances, builds, maintains and collects tolls for the Austrian autobahns. In short, it stands for “Autobahnen- und Schnellstraßen-Finanzierungs- Aktiengesellschaft” German for “Autobahn and highway financing Stock Corporation”.
Founded in 1982, the company is responsible for almost 2,249 kilometres of motorways and expressways.
Transport links are lifelines – for the economy and for people alike. They are essential for economic supply, for jobs, but also for commuters and tourism.
The ASFINAG system is considered a best-practice example in Europe. The company funds all expenses – from new roads to functioning winter services to clean service areas – solely with its own resources. Toll revenues are directly reinvested into the infrastructure – ensuring even higher safety. The company does not receive subsidies from the state budget.
HGV Parking Areas
Looking for resting places | ASFINAG
Abnormal Road Movements
Special transports are transport vehicles that exceed the permissible dimensions (weight, width, length or height) defined in the Motor Vehicle Act (KFG). They are considered trucks and must be registered for the GO toll system.
For further information on movements throughout Austria, please visit the government website here.
Special transports must be approved – Special transports | ASFINAG
All abnormal load operators will require a keeper’s certificate to prove ownership of the trailer, which must be carried as part of the vehicle documents at all times.
EU Directive – Within the European Union (EC), the Council Directive 96/53/EC gives information about the permissible dimensions and weights for road vehicles in international traffic. Vehicle combinations (trucks with ordinary trailers or semi-trailers) which comply with the criteria specified here may travel on roads within the EU without a special permit. The size and weight limits set by the Council Directive are summarised in the tables at the link here
Carriage of Dangerous Goods
The organisation for the movement of Dangerous Goods (ADR) throughout Austria is the:
Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology
A-1030 Vienna, Radetzkystrasse 2 Department II/ST 6
Tel: + (43-1) 711 62 65 5505
Email: st6@bmvit.gv.at
If you are shipping dangerous goods, you must also complete a dangerous goods declaration. See guidance on moving dangerous goods
Heavy Goods Vehicles Road Tolls
With an HGV, lorry or articulated vehicle over 3.5 t MPW (maximum permitted total weight), you must pay GO toll on motorways and expressways in Austria.
However, for minibuses or vans weighing no more than 3.5 tonnes, you will need a vignette or section toll card.
For toll rates for HGVs on Motorways and toll roads applicable on the Austrian Road Network – Go Here
General driving bans
Certain driving and overtaking bans are in place in Austria for Lorries from 7.5 t tonnage (§ 42 StVO road traffic regulations).Certain food transports, if a consignment note or loading list can be produced, are exempt from this ban. The foods include fresh food such as fruit and vegetables, milk (products), meat (products), fish (products), eggs, mushrooms, baked foods and confectioneries.
As in other European countries, certain restrictions are in place for use of the road network by heavy goods traffic. The lorry driving bans are in place to improve road safety, to improve traffic flow or to avoid the risks posed by Lorries on the roads (such as lane changing). In addition to weekend and public holiday driving bans and the general night-time driving ban, the nine federal provinces have also issued their own specific lorry driving bans.
Lorry Driving Ban in 3rd & 4th Lane
Since 1 June 2014, a driving ban for Lorries on the third and fourth lane of motorways and expressways has been in place in Austria. This ban is based on an expert report by the Austrian Road Safety Board from the year 2013. According to the expert report: On motorways, Lorries are more often involved in accidents than cars and make up eleven percent of the journeys on Austrian motorways and expressways. Overall, 22 percent of accidents involve personal injury, especially on three and four-lane motorways.
Lorry overtaking bans
An overtaking ban may be imposed to prevent traffic congestion or accidents in bad weather. However, the ASFINAG aims to adjust the time and location of the lorry overtaking bans to improve traffic flow. Seasonal lorry overtaking bans will be issued selectively in areas with sensitive winter road maintenance on steep stretches and in areas with increased risk of accidents.
Weekend Driving Ban throughout Austria
Driving ban on all roads on Saturdays between 15:00 and 24:00 hrs as well as on Sundays and public holidays between 00:00 and 22:00 hrs for vehicles exceeding 7,5 t gross weight and for road trains exceeding 3,5 t.
In addition, there is a night driving ban on all roads in the night hours between 22:00 and 05:00 hrs for vehicles exceeding 7,5 t gross weight.
Certain food transports, if a consignment note or loading list can be produced, are exempt from this ban. The foods include fresh food such as fruit and vegetables, milk (products), meat (products), fish (products), eggs, mushrooms, baked foods and confectioneries.
Tunnels in Austria
There are currently 165 tunnels in use in Austria’s approximate 2,220 km road network. Since the year 2000, more than four billion euros have been invested in the safety of these tunnels. The tunnels of Austria’s motorways and expressways are among the safest in Europe.
For further information about the Austrian Road Tunnel Network – Tunnel safety | ASFINAG
Driver & Vehicle Documentation
Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.
Permits
Check which international road haulage permits you need.
Check which international road haulage permits you need – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Find out how to apply for bilateral international road haulage permits and the rules you have to follow at the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-road-haulage-permits-for-some-non-eu-countries
To find out more about ECMT Permits, please visit the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ecmt-international-road-haulage-permits
To find out more about ECMT International Removal Permits, please visit the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-road-haulage-removal-permits
Speed Limits for HGV’s over 3.5t
The following speed limits are applicable to HGV drivers in Austria:
Drink Driving
The legal limit in Austria is 10 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood for professional drivers, penalties for driving under the influence are strict.
Other Items Required
In addition to required documents, motorists are also required by law to carry the following items when driving to avoid hefty on-the-spot fines:
It is compulsory to carry snow chains on vehicles over 3.5 tonnes between 15 November and 15 March. It is also compulsory that all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes to be fitted with winter tyres between the same dates. Both Chains and Winter Tyres have compliance requirements.
Items you should not take into Austria
Be aware that you cannot take the following with you into Austria:
You cannot take the following unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘Phytosanitary certificate’:
Warning of approach
Horns should only be used in case of danger and are largely prohibited in Vienna and around hospitals.
Seat belts
It is compulsory to wear seat belts; the fine for failing to wear a seat belt is a €35 on-the-spot charge.
Traffic lights
The international three-colour traffic light system is used in Austria. A flashing green light means the green phase is ending so drivers should prepare to stop.
In an emergency
112 – You can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you are visiting. Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.
Low Emission Zones
A number of regions have low emission zones for Lorries. These LEZs also affect the cities within those regions.
The Tirol has the ‘A12 motorway lorry low emission zone’ and various other regulations on the A12 to reduce pollution.
There is a national low emission zones framework with stickers since 1st January 2015. There are currently only lorry schemes in Austria.
For further information on LEZ’s in Austria, go to Austria (urbanaccessregulations.eu)
Transport Organisation (AISÖ)
AISÖ (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internationaler Straßenverkehrsunternehmer Österreichs) was founded in 1953 as an organisational unit of the WKÖ and its road traffic associations.
Telephone: +(43-1) 501 053 176
Email: office@aisoe.a
British Embassy
Jauresgasse 12
1030 Vienna
Austria
Visa enquiries
https://uk.tlscontact.com/
Telephone: +43 (1) 716130 / +44 1908 51 6666
