Driving
Travelling by car ( Auto or PKW ) is very straightforward in Austria. The roads are in general impeccably maintained, and there's an extensive system of autobahns linking all main cities and providing onward routes to neighbouring countries. Autobahns are sometimes designated by name (the Salzburg-Villach Tauern Autobahn , for example), but more often by number. Note that the Austrian numbering system , in which autobahns are prefixed by the letter A, conflicts with the European numbering system, whereby all main continental routes are prefixed with the letter E - you'll therefore find that the main A1 Salzburg-Vienna autobahn is also marked on most maps as the E60. Main roads ( Bundesstrasse ) are usually marked in red on maps and designated by number; minor roads are usually marked in yellow and have no number. All Austria's autobahns are subject to a single toll , which involves buying a Vignette (windscreen sticker) from the petrol stations or shops found at border posts when entering the country. You can also buy them from post offices and Tabak shops once inside the country. A ten-day Vignette costs oS105/?7.63 (and you'll need to buy a ten-day one even if you're merely passing straight through the country); a two-month Vignette oS300/?21.80. Motorbikers get a discount on all Vignettes . You don't need a Vignette at all, of course, if you intend to stick to normal main roads; however, those caught driving on Austria's autobahns without displaying a valid Vignette will be subject to a maximum of a oS3000/?218.02 fine. Speed limits are 50kph in built-up areas, 100kph on normal roads and 130kph on motorways. You have to be eighteen to drive in Austria, but most driving rules are otherwise fairly standard. Yellow diamond signs indicate who has priority at junctions, rather than road markings. Seatbelts must be worn (in the back seats as well, if you're in a car that has them fitted). The wearing of crash helmets is compulsory for motorbike riders. The permissible alcohol limit is 0.8 percent - roughly two glasses of wine or two pints of beer. Watch out for trams in Austrian cities; it's forbidden to overtake them if they're at a stop without a pedestrian island. Another thing that can catch you out is that if you're turning right or left at traffic lights , you have to give way to pedestrians, who also have a "green man" encouraging them to cross. As far as parking is concerned, most urban areas have time-limited parking zones ( Kurzparkzone ), allowing a parking time of ninety minutes to three hours. If the parking is free of charge, all you need to do is get hold of a cardboard clock ( Tolle Zeit or Zeitkarte ) on which you should then indicate your arrival time. If you have to pay up, there will either be a machine close by, or you'll need to purchase a sticker ( Parkschein ) from a Tabak shop or petrol station, which you must fill in and then display on the windscreen. Many UK car insurance policies cover taking your car to Europe; check with your insurer while planning your trip. However, you're advised to take out extra cover for motoring assistance in case your car breaks down. If you are driving a car abroad and you are already a member of the AA (tel 0800/444500, www.theaa.co.uk ), RAC (tel 0800/550055, www.rac.co.uk ) or equivalent body, you can make use of the breakdown services offered by both the main Austrian motoring organizations, the Osterreichischer Automobile, Motorrad und Touring Club (OAMTC, tel 120, www.oemtc.at ), and the Auto-, Motor- und Radfahrerbund Osterreichs (ARBO, tel 123, www.arboe.or.at ). Call-out charges hover around the oS1000/?72.67 mark. As regards documentation , if you're bringing your own car you need a valid driving licence plus an international green card of insurance, and an international driving permit if you're a non-EU licence holder. In Australia these are available from state motoring organization offices in major towns and cities ( www.aaa.asn.au ); in New Zealand contact your local Automoblie Association office ( www.aa.co.nz ). In North America get in touch with the American Automobile Association ( www.aaa.com ), the Canadian Automobile Association ( www.caa.ca ), or your local branch for details of the procedure.
gwapodario olino says "This is a good and religious country with lots of fun and enjoyment
" Mathematician of the Phillipineserrol gumagay says "this is a good country and should be the very best i have ever traveled once in my own life
" Boogeymanjared dutosme says "Want some good country to travel? Austria is there!!!
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