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Give way to oncoming trafficAustria

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Austria. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.

Traffic signs
Traffic rules
Austria

23. Give way to oncoming traffic

Give way to oncoming traffic means that drivers must allow vehicles approaching from the opposite direction to pass first through a narrow section of road. The rule is normally indicated by a sign facing the direction that must yield and a corresponding priority sign facing oncoming traffic.

Drivers must reduce speed and stop when necessary before entering the narrow passage. They may continue only when they can do so safely and without obstructing oncoming traffic that has priority.

Give way to oncoming traffic
Temporary give-way-to-oncoming-traffic arrangement at roadworks on road B39. (Frankenfels, Austria)
Wikimedia.org • GT1976 • CC BY-SA
When must I give way to oncoming traffic in Austria?

Where priority signs, temporary signals or an authorised controller in Austria require your direction to yield at a narrow road or bridge, allow opposing traffic through first. Do not assume every narrowing has the same priority arrangement.

🔗 ris.bka.gv.at • Austrian RIS, StVO — sections 10, 20, 52(5), 53(7a)

Road narrowing, give way to oncoming drivers. Road narrowing, give way to oncoming drivers.

English • Traffic sign StVO § 52 Z 5 • Give way to oncoming traffic. The sign indicates that drivers travelling in the direction of the red arrow must wait for oncoming traffic.

Deutsch • StVO § 52 Z 5 • WARTEPFLICHT BEI GEGENVERKEHR. Dieses Zeichen zeigt an, dass der Lenker eines in der durch den roten Pfeil bezeichneten Fahrtrichtung fahrenden Fahrzeuges bei Gegenverkehr zu warten hat.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Ris.bka.gv.at • StVO § 52 Z 5

SVG source: 3247 • Public domain • Original revision 2006-08-27. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Does a road-narrows warning automatically give oncoming traffic priority in Austria?

Not necessarily. A warning of a narrow carriageway is not itself the same as an instruction to give way. Check whether there is a separate priority sign, signal or temporary traffic control, and take account of any rules for an obstruction on your side.

🔗 ris.bka.gv.at • Austrian RIS, StVO — sections 10, 20, 52(5), 53(7a)

What if an oncoming vehicle is already entering a narrow passage in Austria?

Reduce speed and wait where you can do so safely rather than forcing two vehicles into insufficient space. Even if a sign gives your approach priority, that does not justify a collision or endangering another road user.

🔗 ris.bka.gv.at • Austrian RIS, StVO — sections 10, 20, 52(5), 53(7a)

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