Priority signsAustria

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.


Priority signs

A priority sign is a traffic sign that indicates the order in which vehicles shall pass intersection points. Vehicles often come into conflict with other vehicles and pedestrians because their intended courses of travel intersect, and thus interfere with each other's routes. The general principle that establishes who has the right to go first is called 'right of way' or 'priority'. It establishes who has the right to use the conflicting part of the road and who has to wait until the other does so. The vehicle that does not need to wait is said to 'have the right of way' or to 'have priority.'


Stop and give way. Give way. Warning for an uncontrolled crossroad. Priority at the junction. Road narrowing, give way to oncoming drivers. Mandatory roundabout direction. Start of a priority road. End of the priority road. Road narrowing, oncoming drivers have to give way. Crossroad shape.
What should I know about priority signs in Austria?

Vorrang geben requires yielding; Halt requires stopping and yielding. Read any supplementary priority-road diagram.

🔗 ris.bka.gv.at • Austrian RIS, StVO — sections 19, 52(23–24)

Must you always stop when giving way in Austria?

No. A give-way control requires stopping when necessary to yield or obtain a safe view. A stop sign requires a complete stop even if the road appears empty.

🔗 ris.bka.gv.at • Austrian RIS, StVO — sections 19, 52(23–24)

1. Stop and give way

This traffic sign means stop and give way. You must come to a complete stop before entering the intersection and give way to traffic that has priority. Proceed only when it is safe.

Stop and give way.

English • Traffic sign StVO § 52 Z 24 • Stop. The sign requires drivers to stop before a junction and give way under section 19(4). If a road marking is absent or not visible, the vehicle must stop where there is a good view. The sign is intended particularly for especially dangerous junctions where drivers can generally assess the traffic situation correctly only after stopping. Railway legislation determines whether, and at what distance, it must be installed before level crossings.

Deutsch • StVO § 52 Z 24 • HALT. Dieses Zeichen ordnet an, dass vor einer Kreuzung anzuhalten und gemäß § 19 Abs. 4 Vorrang zu geben ist. Fehlt eine Bodenmarkierung oder ist sie nicht sichtbar, so ist das Fahrzeug an einer Stelle anzuhalten, von der aus gute Übersicht besteht. Das Zeichen ist vor allem vor solchen Kreuzungen anzubringen, die besonders gefährlich sind und an denen die Lenker von Fahrzeugen die Verkehrslage in der Regel nur dann richtig beurteilen können, wenn sie anhalten. Ob und in welcher Entfernung es vor schienengleichen Eisenbahnübergängen anzubringen ist, ergibt sich aus den eisenbahnrechtlichen Vorschriften.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Ris.bka.gv.at • StVO § 52 Z 24

SVG source: EthanL13 • Public domain • Original revision 2024-01-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.

2. Give way

This traffic sign means give way. Slow down and give way to traffic that has priority. Stop if necessary and proceed only when it is safe.

Give way.

English • Traffic sign StVO § 52 Z 23 • Give way. The sign indicates that drivers must give way under section 19(4). It must be installed before a junction with a priority road or a road carrying heavy traffic, unless the regulatory Stop sign is required.

Deutsch • StVO § 52 Z 23 • VORRANG GEBEN. Dieses Zeichen zeigt an, dass gemäß § 19 Abs. 4 Vorrang zu geben ist. Es ist vor einer Kreuzung mit einer Vorrangstraße oder mit einer Straße mit starkem Verkehr anzubringen, sofern nicht das Vorschriftszeichen „Halt“ erforderlich ist.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Ris.bka.gv.at • StVO § 52 Z 23

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

3. Warning for an uncontrolled crossroad

This traffic sign indicates a warning for an uncontrolled crossroad. An intersection without traffic signals or signs assigning priority lies ahead. Reduce speed, watch for traffic approaching from other directions and follow the applicable local priority rules.

Warning for an uncontrolled crossroad.

English • Traffic sign StVO § 50 Z 3 • Junction. The sign indicates a junction. In built-up areas it is installed only where road safety particularly requires it.

Deutsch • StVO § 50 Z 3 • KREUZUNG. Dieses Zeichen zeigt eine Kreuzung an; in Ortsgebieten ist es nur anzubringen, wenn es die Verkehrssicherheit im besonderen Maße erfordert.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Ris.bka.gv.at • StVO § 50 Z 3

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

4. Priority at the junction

This traffic sign indicates that you have priority at the next intersection. Side roads join from the left and right, and traffic entering from those side roads must give way.

Priority at the junction.

English • Traffic sign StVO § 50 Z 4 • Junction with a road without priority. The sign indicates a junction with a road without priority and means that vehicles travelling in the direction of the thick line have priority (section 19).

Deutsch • StVO § 50 Z 4 • KREUZUNG MIT STRASSE OHNE VORRANG. Dieses Zeichen zeigt eine Kreuzung mit einer Straße ohne Vorrang an und bedeutet, dass das in der Richtung des starken Striches fahrende Fahrzeug den Vorrang hat (§ 19).

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Ris.bka.gv.at • StVO § 50 Z 4

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

5. Road narrowing, give way to oncoming drivers

This traffic sign indicates a road narrowing where you must give way to oncoming traffic. Allow approaching traffic to pass before entering or continuing through the narrow section when required.

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.

6. Mandatory roundabout direction

This traffic sign indicates the mandatory direction around a roundabout. Traffic must circulate in the direction shown by the arrows. The sign does not itself determine priority; follow the applicable priority signs, traffic signals and local rules.

Mandatory roundabout direction.

English • Traffic sign StVO § 52 Z 15 • Mandatory direction. The sign indicates that drivers may travel only in the direction shown by the arrow.

Deutsch • StVO § 52 Z 15 • VORGESCHRIEBENE FAHRTRICHTUNG. Dieses Zeichen zeigt an, dass Lenker von Fahrzeugen nur in der durch den Pfeil angegebenen Fahrtrichtung fahren dürfen.

7. Start of a priority road

This traffic sign indicates the start of a priority road. Drivers on the priority road normally have priority over traffic entering from side roads until the priority road ends, unless traffic lights, other signs or applicable traffic rules indicate otherwise.

Start of a priority road.

English • Traffic sign StVO § 52 Z 25a • Priority road. The sign indicates the beginning and course of a priority road. If the priority road changes direction at a junction, its course must be shown on a supplementary plate under section 54(5)(e).

Deutsch • StVO § 52 Z 25a • VORRANGSTRASSE. Dieses Zeichen zeigt den Beginn und den Verlauf einer Vorrangstraße an. Wenn eine Vorrangstraße auf einer Kreuzung die Richtung ihres Verlaufes ändert, so ist der Verlauf der Vorrangstraße auf einer Zusatztafel nach § 54 Abs. 5 lit. e erkennbar zu machen.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Ris.bka.gv.at • StVO § 52 Z 25a

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

8. End of the priority road

This traffic sign indicates the end of the priority road. The road no longer has continuing priority at subsequent intersections. Follow the applicable traffic lights, priority signs and default priority rules.

End of the priority road.

English • Traffic sign StVO § 52 Z 25b • End of the priority road. The sign indicates the end of a priority road.

Deutsch • StVO § 52 Z 25b • ENDE DER VORRANGSTRASSE. Dieses Zeichen zeigt das Ende einer Vorrangstraße an.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Ris.bka.gv.at • StVO § 52 Z 25b

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

9. Road narrowing, oncoming drivers have to give way

This traffic sign indicates a road narrowing where oncoming drivers have to give way.

Road narrowing, oncoming drivers have to give way.

English • Traffic sign StVO § 53 Z 7a • Oncoming traffic must wait. The sign indicates that the driver of an oncoming vehicle must wait under section 52, item 5.

Deutsch • StVO § 53 Z 7a • WARTEPFLICHT FÜR GEGENVERKEHR. Dieses Zeichen zeigt an, dass der Lenker eines entgegenkommenden Fahrzeuges gemäß § 52 Z 5 zu warten hat.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Ris.bka.gv.at • StVO § 53 Z 7a

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

10. Crossroad shape

This traffic sign shows the shape or layout of an upcoming junction. The diagram indicates how the approaching road and connecting roads are arranged.

Crossroad shape.

English • Supplementary plate StVO § 54 Abs. 5 lit. e • Supplementary plate. Below a Give way, Stop or Priority road sign, this plate indicates that a priority road follows a particular course (section 19(4)).

Deutsch • StVO § 54 Abs. 5 lit. e • Zusatztafel. Eine solche Zusatztafel unter den Zeichen „Vorrang geben“, „Halt“ oder „Vorrangstraße“ zeigt an, dass eine Straße mit Vorrang einen besonderen Verlauf nimmt (§ 19 Abs. 4).

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Ris.bka.gv.at • StVO § 54 Abs. 5 lit. e

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