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[edit]
| 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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Global status report on road safety 2013: Albania" (PDF). World Health Organization. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Laws and Tips for Driving in Belgium - EUroadlegal.co.uk". EUroadlegal.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ^ "Global status report on road safety 2013: Bosnia and Herzegovina" (PDF). World Health Organization. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Global status report on road safety 2013: Belarus" (PDF). World Health Organization. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Germany Traffic Code" (in German). www.gesetze-im-internet.de. Retrieved 2013-07-15.
- ^ "Laws and Tips for Driving in Germany - EUroadlegal.co". EUroadlegal.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ^ 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
- ^ "Laws and Tips for Driving in Ireland - EUroadlegal.co.uk". EUroadlegal.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ^ "Global status report on road safety 2013: Malta" (PDF). Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Snelheid in het verkeer: de regels | ANWB". www.anwb.nl. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "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)
- ^ "Russian Federation Traffic Code" (DOC) (in Russian). www.gibdd.ru. Retrieved 2013-07-15.