Safety vests

Wearing safety vests is mandatory since 1 May 2005
Safety of people is also given high priority in Austria! After Spain, Italy and Portugal, wearing a safety vest is mandatory in Austria since 1 May 2005.

It is mandatory to have a safety vest in the car and to wear it when you leave your vehicle due to a breakdown to ensure that safety of people is improved on motorways. Both not wearing and not having a safety vest can be punished by law.

The safety vest must comply with EU standard EN 471. This vest is fluorescent orange or yellow and can be obtained at most petrol stations in Germany, France and Austria.

Regulations:
• You must have 1 safety vest for all passengers with you.
• The obligation to wear and carry a safety vest applies to all the passengers of the vehicle.

All drivers must wear a safety vest during the following conditions:
• On B-roads when a warning triangle must be used. This means when the vehicle comes to a standstill on a road:
• When the road is obstructed in some way.
• When visibility is poor. 
• When driving at twilight or during the night.

On motorways: 
• Always when you leave your vehicle when you have stopped alongside a motorway. 
• It is not mandatory at parking places.

Regulations related to safety vests:
• Use of the reflecting and fluorescent colour with white reflecting stripes (logos, text, etc. may only be printed using a small format).
• The permitted colours are fluorescent yellow or orange.
• You will recognise the safety vests from the EU standard EN 471 that you will find on the label in or on the safety vest.

More information about the Austrian motorways.