Comparison of European traffic laws

Last updated

This is a comparison of European traffic laws.

Many countries in Europe have different policies on traffic laws, which are tabulated below. Speed limits on motorways (expressways), dual carriageways (divided streets), single carriageways (undivided streets), and urban areas may differ. Some countries have an upper limit on permitted blood alcohol level (typically maxing out at 0.05%), but other countries do not allow any blood alcohol content at all. Furthermore, rules may also differ whether drivers may be required or recommended to bring seatbelts, warning triangles, first aid, fire extinguishers, spare bulbs, and tow ropes. Countries also vary with respect to minimum driver's age (typically either 17 or 18) and the minimum child age for them to be allowed in the front seat.

Contents

General

Country code CountrySpeed limit on motorway (km/h)Speed limit on dual carriageway (km/h)Speed limit on single carriageway (km/h)Speed limit in urban areaPermitted alcohol level (%) Toll roads Seatbelt requiredMinimum child age (front seat)Triangle requiredFirst aid requiredFire extinguisher requiredSpare bulb requiredMinimum driver's ageTow rope required
AFlag of Austria.svg  Austria 130100100500.05YesAllYesYesRecommendedNo17Yes
ALFlag of Albania.svg  Albania 11090400Yes [1] RecommendedRecommendedRecommendedNo18Yes
ANDFlag of Andorra.svg  Andorra 90500.05Front10YesRecommendedRecommendedNo18Yes
BFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1209070 (Flanders);
90 (Wallonia)
500.05No [2] All12YesYesYesNo18 (17 with supervision of parents)Yes
BGFlag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 14090500.05YesAll10YesYesYesYes18Yes
BIHFlag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 13010080500.03Yes [3] 12YesYesRecommendedYes18Yes
BYFlag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 11090600.03YesYes [4] 12YesYesYesNo18Yes
CHFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 12080 (100 on limited-access roads)500.05YesAllYesRecommendedRecommendedNo18Yes
CYFlag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 10080500.05All12Yes, 2xRecommendedRecommendedNo18Yes
CZFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 13090 (110 on expressways)90500YesAllYesYesRecommendedNo18 (17 for B1 cars)No
DFlag of Germany.svg  Germany [5] no or speed limit sign (130 recommended)no or speed limit sign (130 recommended)100500.05No [6] AllYesYesRecommendedNo18 (17 with supervision of >30 years old driver)No
DKFlag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 13080500.05YesAllUse required in case of accidentNoRecommendedNo18No
EFlag of Spain.svg  Spain 12012090500.05YesAllYes, 2xRecommendedRecommendedNo18Yes
ESTFlag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 11011090500AllYesYesYesNo18 (16 with supervision of a person with 2+ years of driving experience)Yes
FFlag of France.svg  France 130 (rain/wet 110)110 (rain/wet 100)80500.05YesAll10YesRecommendedRecommendedNo18 (15 with supervision of a person with 5+ years of driving experience)Yes
FINFlag of Finland.svg  Finland 120 [7] 80–100500.05NoAll3YesRecommendedRecommendedNo17 (16 with supervision of a 25+ years old person with 5+ years of driving experience)Yes
FLFlag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein 80500.08AllYesYesRecommendedNo18Yes
GRFlag of Greece.svg  Greece 13090500.05All12YesYesYesNo18Yes
HFlag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 13011090500YesAll12YesYesRecommendedNo18 (17 with supervision of someone with 10+ years drive-experience)Yes
HRFlag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 13011080500.05YesAll12YesYesRecommendedYes18No
IFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 13011090500.05YesAll12YesRecommendedRecommendedNo18Yes
IRLFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 12080 (local & regional roads);
100 (national roads)
500.05Yes [8] AllRecommendedRecommendedRecommendedNo17Yes
ISFlag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 90 (paved roads);
80 (gravel roads)
500.05All14YesRecommendedRecommendedNo17Yes
LFlag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 13090500.05All11YesRecommendedRecommendedNo18Yes
LTFlag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 13011090500.04All12YesYesYesNo18No
LVFlag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 9090500.05AllYesYesYesNo18Yes
MFlag of Malta.svg  Malta 80500.08Yes [9] 11RecommendedRecommendedRecommendedNo18Yes
MCFlag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 500.0510RecommendedRecommendedRecommendedNo18Yes
MDFlag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 90500All12YesYesYesNo18Yes
NMKFlag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 13080600.05YesAll12YesYesRecommendedYes18Yes
MNEFlag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 12080500.05YesAll12YesRecommendedRecommendedNoYes
NFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 11080500.02YesAllYesRecommendedRecommendedNo18Yes
NLFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 100 (day) [10]
130 (night)
10080500.05Yes [11] All12RecommendedRecommendedRecommendedNo18 (17 with supervision of someone with 5+ years drive-experience)Yes
PFlag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 12010090500.05YesAll12YesRecommendedRecommendedNo18Yes
PLFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 140100 (120 on expressways)90 (100 on expressways)500.02YesAllYesRecommendedYesNo18 (16 for B1 cars)No
ROFlag of Romania.svg  Romania 130100 (110 on expressways)90500YesAll12YesYesYesNo18 (16 for B1 cars)No
RSMFlag of San Marino.svg  San Marino 70500.08All12RecommendedRecommendedRecommendedNo18Yes
RUSFlag of Russia.svg  Russia [12] 11090600YesAll12YesYesYesNo18Yes
SFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 11070500.02YesAllYesRecommendedRecommendedNo18No
SKFlag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 1309090500YesAll12YesYesRecommendedYes18 (17 with supervision of someone with 10+ years drive-experience)Yes
SLOFlag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 13010090500.05All12YesYesRecommendedNo18Yes
SRBFlag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 13010080500.02YesAll12YesYesRecommendedNo18 (17 with supervision of someone with 5+ years drive-experience)Yes
TRFlag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 120110 (cars) / 90 (rest)90500.05YesAll10YesYesYesNo18Yes
UAFlag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 13011090500YesAll12YesYesYesNo18Yes
UKFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 113 (70 mph)113 (70 mph)97 (60 mph)48 (30 mph)0.08 (0.05 Scotland)YesAllRecommendedRecommendedRecommendedNo17No
Country code CountrySpeed limit on motorway (km/h)Speed limit on dual carriageway (km/h)Speed limit on single carriageway (km/h)Speed limit in urban areaPermitted alcohol level (%) Toll roads Seatbelt requiredMinimum child age (front seat)Triangle requiredFirst aid requiredFire extinguisher requiredSpare bulb requiredMinimum driver's ageTow rope required

See also

References

  1. "Global status report on road safety 2013: Albania" (PDF). World Health Organization. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  2. "Laws and Tips for Driving in Belgium - EUroadlegal.co.uk". EUroadlegal.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  3. "Global status report on road safety 2013: Bosnia and Herzegovina" (PDF). World Health Organization. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  4. "Global status report on road safety 2013: Belarus" (PDF). World Health Organization. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  5. "Germany Traffic Code" (in German). www.gesetze-im-internet.de. Retrieved 2013-07-15.
  6. "Laws and Tips for Driving in Germany - EUroadlegal.co". EUroadlegal.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  7. The general speed limit on Finnish motorways is the same as the general speed limit outside built-up areas (80 km/h). The maximum speed that can be allowed is 120 km/h. In winter speed limit in motorways is 100 km/h
  8. "Laws and Tips for Driving in Ireland - EUroadlegal.co.uk". EUroadlegal.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  9. "Global status report on road safety 2013: Malta" (PDF). Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  10. "Snelheid in het verkeer: de regels | ANWB". www.anwb.nl. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  11. "Dutch Toll Roads – A guide to toll roads in The Netherlands - rhinocarhire.com". rhinocarhire.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016. (There are two tunnels, in which you have to pay toll)
  12. "Russian Federation Traffic Code" (DOC) (in Russian). www.gibdd.ru. Retrieved 2013-07-15.