General Traffic Rules and Behaviour in Traffic
The core duty: constant care and mutual consideration
Austrian road traffic law rests on a general duty of care. Every road user must behave so that no person is endangered, obstructed or unnecessarily inconvenienced. This umbrella principle is the answer to many scenario questions in which no specific rule seems to fit: if an action endangers someone, it is unlawful even without an explicit prohibition.
Speed, distance and lane discipline
Drive at a speed that lets you stop within the distance you can see to be clear. Inside built-up areas the default limit is 50 km/h; outside built-up areas it is 100 km/h, and on motorways 130 km/h. These are maximums, not targets: rain, darkness, fog, roadworks or a schoolyard crowd all lower the permissible speed. Keep enough distance to stop if the vehicle ahead brakes hard - the two-second rule is a reliable guide, doubled when the road is wet. Drive as far right as practicable, use the right-hand lane, and overtake on the left. Overtaking is forbidden where visibility is restricted, at protected pedestrian crossings, and where you would force others to brake or swerve.
Vulnerable road users and special situations
Pedestrians, cyclists and children deserve heightened caution. Near schools, playgrounds and public transport stops, reduce speed and be ready to stop. When a bus indicates it is pulling out from a stop within a built-up area, give way. At level crossings, approach with care, never enter while the barrier is moving, and never stop on the tracks. Alcohol, distraction and fatigue are treated strictly; novice drivers face tighter alcohol rules.
Worked example
You drive at 50 km/h on a dry road. Thinking distance is roughly 15 m and braking distance roughly 12–13 m, so total stopping distance is about 27–28 m. If the surface is wet, braking distance roughly doubles - plan for well over 40 m. Rule of thumb: half the speedometer value in metres is the safe following gap.
Traps in exam questions
Watch for words like "always" and "never"; speed limits are ceilings, not entitlements. Remember that a lower posted limit overrides the general one, and that the general duty of care can make an otherwise permitted manoeuvre unlawful.