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School areaAustria

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

27. School area

A school area is a road or group of roads near a school where large numbers of children may walk, cycle, cross the road or enter and leave vehicles. It may be identified by warning signs, zone signs, road markings, traffic-calming measures or flashing lights.

Special speed limits, parking restrictions or access rules may apply permanently or only during school arrival and departure times. Drivers should reduce speed, watch carefully for children and be prepared to stop.

Children warning sign beside the Kanonikus-Gamper-Gasse street sign. (Innsbruck, Austria)
Wikimedia.org • Luftschiffhafen • CC BY-SA
What speed rules apply around schools in Austria?

School approaches may have signed 30 km/h restrictions or other locally established limits; do not assume every school entrance has the same limit.

🔗 ris.bka.gv.at • Austrian RIS, StVO — sections 20, 22, 50; 15–16 for overtaking

Does a school warning sign in Austria automatically set the speed limit?

A children or school warning alerts you to a potential hazard; the enforceable numerical speed limit depends on the applicable law, regulatory signs and any time or variable display. Slow further if children are near the road.

🔗 ris.bka.gv.at • Austrian RIS, StVO — sections 20, 22, 50; 15–16 for overtaking

Warning for children. Warning for children.

English • Traffic sign StVO § 50 Z 12 • Children. The sign indicates places frequently used by children, for example near schools, nurseries and playgrounds.

Deutsch • StVO § 50 Z 12 • KINDER. Dieses Zeichen zeigt Stellen z. B. in der Nähe von Schulen, Kindergärten und Spielplätzen an, wo sich häufig Kinder aufhalten.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Ris.bka.gv.at • StVO § 50 Z 12

SVG source: 3247 • Public domain • Original revision 2022-09-01. Wikimedia original unmodified.

How should you pass a school entrance in Austria?

Watch for children stepping out from between parked vehicles, obey crossings and any school patrol, and follow stopping or parking restrictions. Do not obstruct visibility near a crossing or school entrance; approach at a speed that permits a safe stop.

🔗 ris.bka.gv.at • Austrian RIS, StVO — sections 20, 22, 50; 15–16 for overtaking

1 Austria 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Zone 6 Speed limit 7 Footpath 8 Bike path 9 Shared-use path 10 Tunnel 11 Cycling street 12 Pedestrian zone 13 One-way traffic 14 Quay 15 Slope 16 Bus lane 17 Bus stop 18 Dead end 19 Stop sign 20 Give way 21 Roundabout 22 Priority road 23 Give way to oncoming traffic 24 Railway crossing 25 Mandatory direction 26 Turn prohibition 27 School area 28 Overtaking 29 Crossing animals 30 Wrong-way driving 31 Roadworks 32 Height limit 33 Width limit 34 Weight limit 35 Priority at the next junction 36 Traffic lights 37 Pedestrian lights 38 Speed feedback 39 Driving licence 40 Location marker 41 Traffic mirror 42 Emergency telephone 43 International border 44 Cycling route 45 Parking 46 No parking 47 No stopping 48 Disabled parking 49 Reversing 50 Uncontrolled crossroad 51 Road surface 52 Provisional licence 53 Runaway truck ramp 54 City limit 55 Cyclist crossing 56 Horn 57 Licence plate 58 Charging station 59 Dangers 60 Cyclist 61 Bus 62 Police 63 Ambulance 64 Police signals 65 European emission standard 66 Pothole 67 Private property 68 Path 69 Particulates 70 Air pollution 71 Rush hour 72 Road code 73 Street gutter 74 Cargo bike 75 Forestry vehicle 76 Construction vehicle 77 Semi-trailer truck 78 Trolleybus 79 Speed pedelec 80 Delivery vehicle 81 Idling 82 Tow truck 83 Four-wheel drive 84 No vehicles 85 Bicycle 86 Motorcycle equipment 87 Tram 88 Rail track 89 Caravan 90 Trailer 91 Tow hitch 92 Fire truck 93 Siren 94 Convoy 95 Emergency vehicle lighting 96 Agricultural machinery 97 Electric bicycle 98 Electric vehicle 99 Pedelec 100 Quadricycle ...