Comparison of European traffic laws

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, 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.

General

Country code Country Speed limit on motorway (km/h) Speed limit on dual carriageway (km/h) Speed limit on single carriageway (km/h) Speed limit in urban area Permitted alcohol level (%) Toll roads Seatbelt required Minimum child age (front seat) Triangle required First aid required Fire extinguisher required Spare bulb required Minimum driver's age Tow rope required
A  Austria 130 100 100 50 0.05 Yes All Yes Yes Recommended No 17 Yes
AL  Albania 110 90 40 0 Yes[1] Recommended Recommended Recommended No 18 Yes
AND  Andorra 90 50 0.05 Front 10 Yes Recommended Recommended No 18 Yes
B  Belgium 120 90 70 (Flanders);
90 (Wallonia)
50 0.05 No[2] All 12 Yes Yes Yes No 18 (17 with supervision of parents) Yes
BG  Bulgaria 140 90 50 0.05 Yes All 10 Yes Yes Yes Yes 18 Yes
BIH  Bosnia and Herzegovina 130 100 80 50 0.03 Yes[3] 12 Yes Yes Recommended Yes 18 Yes
BY  Belarus 110 90 60 0.03 Yes Yes[4] 12 Yes Yes Yes No 18 Yes
CH  Switzerland 120 80 (100 on limited-access roads) 50 0.05 Yes All Yes Recommended Recommended No 18 Yes
CY  Cyprus 100 80 50 0.05 All 12 Yes, 2x Recommended Recommended No 18 Yes
CZ  Czech Republic 130 90 (110 on expressways) 90 50 0 Yes All Yes Yes Recommended No 18 (17 for B1 cars) No
D  Germany[5] no or speed limit sign (130 recommended) no or speed limit sign (130 recommended) 100 50 0.05 No[6] All Yes Yes Recommended No 18 (17 with supervision of >30 years old driver) No
DK  Denmark 130 80 50 0.05 Yes All Use required in case of accident No Recommended No 18 No
E  Spain 120 120 90 50 0.05 Yes All Yes, 2x Recommended Recommended No 18 Yes
EST  Estonia 110 110 90 50 0 All Yes Yes Yes No 18 (16 with supervision of a person with 2+ years of driving experience) Yes
F  France 130 (rain/wet 110) 110 (rain/wet 100) 80 50 0.05 Yes All 10 Yes Recommended Recommended No 18 (15 with supervision of a person with 5+ years of driving experience) Yes
FIN  Finland 120[7] 80–100 50 0.05 No All 3 Yes Recommended Recommended No 17 (16 with supervision of a 25+ years old person with 5+ years of driving experience) Yes
FL  Liechtenstein 80 50 0.08 All Yes Yes Recommended No 18 Yes
GR  Greece 130 90 50 0.05 All 12 Yes Yes Yes No 18 Yes
H  Hungary 130 110 90 50 0 Yes All 12 Yes Yes Recommended No 18 (17 with supervision of someone with 10+ years drive-experience) Yes
HR  Croatia 130 110 80 50 0.05 Yes All 12 Yes Yes Recommended Yes 18 No
I  Italy 130 110 90 50 0.05 Yes All 12 Yes Recommended Recommended No 18 Yes
IRL  Ireland 120 80 (local & regional roads);
100 (national roads)
50 0.05 Yes[8] All Recommended Recommended Recommended No 17 Yes
IS  Iceland 90 (paved roads);
80 (gravel roads)
50 0.05 All 14 Yes Recommended Recommended No 17 Yes
L  Luxembourg 130 90 50 0.05 All 11 Yes Recommended Recommended No 18 Yes
LT  Lithuania 130 110 90 50 0.04 All 12 Yes Yes Yes No 18 No
LV  Latvia 90 90 50 0.05 All Yes Yes Yes No 18 Yes
M  Malta 80 50 0.08 Yes[9] 11 Recommended Recommended Recommended No 18 Yes
MC  Monaco 50 0.05 10 Recommended Recommended Recommended No 18 Yes
MD  Moldova 90 50 0 All 12 Yes Yes Yes No 18 Yes
NMK  North Macedonia 130 80 60 0.05 Yes All 12 Yes Yes Recommended Yes 18 Yes
MNE  Montenegro 120 80 50 0.05 Yes All 12 Yes Recommended Recommended No Yes
N  Norway 110 80 50 0.02 Yes All Yes Recommended Recommended No 18 Yes
NL  Netherlands 100 (day)[10]

130 (night)

100 80 50 0.05 Yes[11] All 12 Recommended Recommended Recommended No 18 (17 with supervision of someone with 5+ years drive-experience) Yes
P  Portugal 120 100 90 50 0.05 Yes All 12 Yes Recommended Recommended No 18 Yes
PL  Poland 140 100 (120 on expressways) 90 (100 on expressways) 50 0.02 Yes All Yes Recommended Yes No 18 (16 for B1 cars) No
RO  Romania 130 100 (110 on expressways) 90 50 0 Yes All 12 Yes Yes Yes No 18 (16 for B1 cars) No
RSM  San Marino 70 50 0.08 All 12 Recommended Recommended Recommended No 18 Yes
RUS  Russia[12] 110 90 60 0 Yes All 12 Yes Yes Yes No 18 Yes
S  Sweden 110 70 50 0.02 Yes All Yes Recommended Recommended No 18 No
SK  Slovakia 130 90 90 50 0 Yes All 12 Yes Yes Recommended Yes 18 (17 with supervision of someone with 10+ years drive-experience) Yes
SLO  Slovenia 130 100 90 50 0.05 All 12 Yes Yes Recommended No 18 Yes
SRB  Serbia 130 100 80 50 0.02 Yes All 12 Yes Yes Recommended No 18 (17 with supervision of someone with 5+ years drive-experience) Yes
TR  Turkey 120 110 (cars) / 90 (rest) 90 50 0.05 Yes All 10 Yes Yes Yes No 18 Yes
UA  Ukraine 130 110 90 50 0 Yes All 12 Yes Yes Yes No 18 Yes
UK  United Kingdom 113 (70 mph) 113 (70 mph) 97 (60 mph) 48 (30 mph) 0.08 (0.05 Scotland) Yes All Recommended Recommended Recommended No 17 No
Country code Country Speed limit on motorway (km/h) Speed limit on dual carriageway (km/h) Speed limit on single carriageway (km/h) Speed limit in urban area Permitted alcohol level (%) Toll roads Seatbelt required Minimum child age (front seat) Triangle required First aid required Fire extinguisher required Spare bulb required Minimum driver's age Tow 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.