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Austria Traffic

Traffic report Austria

Traveling to Austria and going on vacation by car (and caravan), is a great outlook. Being well prepared for a long journey through Europe is half the job. Below you will find information on the busy roads, border crossings, traffic calendars, alternative routes, peak days and hours, traffic information services, etc., in Austria.

Austria Traffic News

Phone

German and English traffic information is provided in Austria by ÖAMTC, the Austrian automobile club on telephone number 08 10 120 120 (from abroad +43 1 711 990).

Radio

German-language traffic information is broadcast by Ö3. Every hour and a half, 24 hours a day. The frequencies are indicated on signs along the motorways.

Internet

Information about the current traffic information can be found on oeamtc.at, including the current weather report, the condition of the roads, traffic jams, roadworks and information about mountain passes.

More information about the Austrian motorways and Schnellstraßen, road construction, toll roads, rates and vignettes can be found at asfinag.at.

Road network

Austria has a well-developed and well-maintained road network.
The network of motorways (Autobahnen) in Austria is in line with that of neighboring Germany.
Sometimes spectacular bridges and tunnels are used.
On mountain roads, where it is extremely difficult to construct a road, and on approximately 140 km of motorway, toll must be paid.
In addition, there is a dense network of interregional roads (Fernstrassen), primary roads (Bundesstrassen) and secondary roads (Landstrassen).
The main roads are two-lane or four-lane, and sometimes tolls are charged there too.
Unpaved roads only occur in remote mountain areas and nature reserves.
A car train can be used on some routes.
The signage is excellent, also on the secondary roads.
In the Alps, driving on the famous pass roads requires a good dose of experience, especially when traveling with a caravan or trailer. Pass roads are closed in the winter due to heavy snowfall.

Roads and routes

The best route to the west of Austria is via Germany via Ulm – Bregenz.
The best route to central Austria is via Germany via Munich – Kufstein or Salzburg.
The best route to the east of Austria is via Germany via Passau – Linz.

Alternative route to Italy

If you want to avoid the motorway as much as possible on your way to Italy in Austria, you can opt for the route via the Brenner Bundesstraße. This runs parallel to the Brenner Autobahn (A13). Keep in mind that this road is forbidden for cars with a caravan or trailer.
Almost all other border crossings with Italy are in mountain passes (including the Reschen pass, Timmelsjoch, Staller Sattel and Plöcken pass). Some experience in driving in the mountains is desirable here.

New roads

S1 (Vienna outer ring): Gross Enzersdorf – Süßenbrunn (10 km). Delivery date unknown.
S8 Junction Raasdorf (S1) – Gänserndorf/Obersiebenbrunn (14 km). Construction to start in 2021, delivery date unknown.
S36 Judenburg – St. Georgen ob Judenburg (12 km). Start 2023, delivery 2029.

Road works

A4: Fischamend – Bruck-West. Completion end of 2022.
A9: St Pankraz – Windischgarsten. Until Nov 2022.
A9: Edlach und Gaishorn, in both directions. Until October 2024 (no work in winter).
A9: Uberlach – Peggau. Until Nov 2022.
A11: Karawanken tunnel, in both directions, Completion of the 2nd tube at the end of 2024/beginning of 2025. Then renovation of the 1st tunnel tube, completion in 2026/2027.
A23: Favoriten – Prater. Until the end of 2022.
S16: Arlberg tunnel in both directions from May to October 2023 and from May to September 2024. Detour via Rosenheim-Munich in Germany or via Fernpasstrasse in Austria, the B179.

Tunnels

In Austria, making the many tunnels safer has high priority. Different tunnels therefore receive a second tunnel tube.

Driving ban for trucks

In Austria, the following driving bans apply to trucks

Night driving ban: every night from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Weekend driving ban: from Saturday 3 pm to Sunday 10 pm.
Holiday driving ban on a number of busy routes: from 1 July to 31 August on Saturdays from 8 am to 3 pm (changing to the weekend driving ban).
A driving ban of 0 am to 10 pm applies on public holidays.

Busy roads

A1 West Autobahn (Salzburg – Linz – Vienna). Bottleneck at Walserberg (Germany border).
A2 Süd Autobahn (Vienna – Graz – Klagenfurt). Between Vienna and Baden and between Graz and Klagenfurt.
A4 Ost Autobahn (Vienna – Nickelsdorf). Between Vienna and Bruck a / d Leitha and at Nickelsdorf.
A8 Innkreis Autobahn (Suben – Wels – Sattledt). Between Wels and Passau.
A9 Pyhrn Autobahn. Bottlenecks between Voralpen – Graz – Spielfeld, between Inzersdorf and Selthal, near Graz and at Spielfeld.
A9 Pyhrn Autobahn (Wels – Graz – Spielfeld). Between Inzersdorf and Kalwang, near Graz and at Spielfeld.
A10 Tauern Autobahn (Salzburg – Spital – Villach). Between Golling and Bishofshofen, at toll station Sankt Michael im Lungau (in front of the Katschberg tunnel) and between Gmünd and Lake Millstatt. Bottleneck at Walserberg (Germany border).
A11 Karawanken Autobahn (Villach – Karawankentunnel). Bottleneck for the Karawankentunnel.
A12 Inntalautobahn (Kufstein – Innsbruck – Landeck). At Kufstein, Wörgl, Wiesing, Innsbruck and Imst. Bottleneck between Kufstein and Kiefersfelden (Germany border).
A13 Brenner Autobahn (Innsbruck – Brenner). At the Schönberg toll station and at the Brenner pass.
A21 Autobahn Aussenring (A1 – A2). At Steinhäusl and at Vösendorf.
A23 Vienna ring road. Between Vösendorf and Prater.
B179 Fern pass route. Between Reutte and Nassereith. Bottlenecks at the Füssen border tunnel and at the Lermoosertunnel.
S1 Aussenringschnellstrasse Vienna (A2 / A21 – A4). Between Vösendorf and Schwechat.
S16 Arlbergschnellstrasse (Bludenz – Arlberg – Landeck). At the Dalaaser tunnel.

Busy border crossings

With Germany

Suben (A8).
Salzburg Walserberg (A1).
Kufstein (A12).
Füssen border tunnel (B179).

With Hungary

Nickelsdorf (A4 / E60).
Klingenbach / Sopron.
Deutschkreuz / Kophaza.
E66 Heiligenkreuz / Rabafuzes.

With Italy

Brenner pass.
Tarvisio.

With Slovenia

Karawankentunnel / Jesenice (A11).
Spielfeld (A9).

With Slovakia

D2 Bratislava-Jarovce / Kittsee.

With Switzerland

St. Margrethe

Traffic during the winter

Busy roads

A10 Salzburg – Villach (Tauern Autobahn): at toll station Sankt Michael im Lungau, the Katschberg tunnel and the Villach junction.
B179 Fern pass route: between Füssen and Imst, at the Füssen border tunnel and at the Lermoostunnel.

Busy border crossings

With Germany: Kufstein (A12).
With Italy: Brenner motorway (A13), Brenner-Bundesstrasse (B182).

Alternative routes

For the A12, junction Inntal – Kufstein – Innsbruck

Holzkirchen – Achen pass, connection A12.
Munich – Garmisch – Mittenwald – Seefeld-Zirl (A12).

For the A10 Salzburg – Tauerntunnel – Villach

Siegsdorf – Lofer – Lend – Tauern autotrain tunnel (Böckstein – Mallnitz) – Spittal / Drau (A10).
Siegsdorf – Lofer – Mittersill – Felbertauerntunnel (toll) – Matrei – Lienz – Spittal / Drau (A10).

Breakdown assistance in Austria

Safety first
Stop in a safe place – If possible, stop in the side of the road or on the emergency lane as far to the right as possible (make sure there is room to step out on the right). Turn your front wheels towards roadside or guardrail.
Turn on your emergency lights – Let the emergency lights of your car flash to warn the other traffic (and also keep them on after you have placed a warning triangle). Make sure that the low beam also lights up in the dark.
Put on a safety vest – As a driver, you are required to wear a safety vest if you walk alongside the road in the event of a breakdown or accident. Preferably put on a safety vest before you leave your vehicle and also let your passengers put on a safety vest. Motorbike drivers and their passengers are also advised to put on a safety vest in the event of a breakdown or accident.
Get out of the car – Carefully get out, and let all passengers get out, on the side where there is no traffic and find a safe place behind the guard rail or on the roadside. Never cross a highway.
Place a warning triangle if necessary – You are only required to use a warning triangle if you are outside the built-up area due to breakdown or an accident in a place where traffic behind you cannot see your car in time or when visibility is poor due to weather conditions (even if you warning lights are on). Place the warning triangle on motorways at least 200 to 250 m behind your car and on other roads outside built-up areas 150 m behind your car. (Within built-up areas, that distance should be approximately 50 m.) Place the warning triangle no more than 1 m from the edge of the road.

Towing

Towing is permitted on the motorway until the first exit.
The towing vehicle must carry low beam.
The tow rope or rod may be a maximum of 8 m long and must be made more visible with a red cloth.

A maximum speed of 40 km / h applies when towing.

Accident

Call the emergency number 112 – In the event of an accident that has led to considerable damage or physical injury, you are required to call the emergency number 112. In that case you can also call the police at number 133. In the event of personal injury, you are obliged to seek assistance. In the event of a collision with only limited damage, it is sufficient to exchange data in Austria. However, always call the police in case of doubt or disagreement between parties.
Do not leave the scene of the accident – It is forbidden and punishable to leave the scene of an accident without exchanging data and assisting any injured persons.
Provide first aid – If you are involved in, or witness to, an accident, be obliged to provide assistance to persons who are injured to the extent that you are able to do so and can do so without endangering yourself or others.
Exchange data – All drivers involved in an accident are required to exchange their personal data and insurance data. In the event of a unilateral collision (for example, if you bump into a pole or parked car), you are obliged to report this collision to the police (or wait until you can exchange data with the other party).