MotorwayRomania

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Romania. 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.


2. Motorway

A motorway is a road specially designed and signposted for motor traffic. Motorways normally have separate carriageways for opposing traffic, controlled access through designated entrances and exits, no direct access to neighbouring properties, and no level crossings with other roads, railways or paths.

Special traffic rules apply on motorways. The permitted road users, speed limits, lane rules, tolls and emergency procedures vary between countries, so drivers must follow the local traffic signs and regulations.

Entrance to the A1 motorway ring road towards Bucharest. (Sibiu, Romania)
Wikimedia.org • Stoschmidt • CC BY
How do people refer to a motorway in Romania?

The Romanian term is autostradă. A drum expres is an expressway; its general car speed limit differs from the motorway limit.

🔗 legislatie.just.ro • Romania, OUG 195/2002 — articles 6, 48–50, 74; Regulation 121, 142, 169–170

🔗 legislatie.just.ro • Romania, HG1391/2006 implementing Regulation — articles 121, 142, 169–170

Start of a motorway. Start of a motorway.

English • Motorway.

Română • Autostradă.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Legislatie.just.ro • HG nr. 1391/2006 • anexa nr. 2 • C2 • Monitorul Oficial nr. 876/2006, p. 46

SVG source: Gigillo83 • CC BY-SA 4.0 • Original revision 2015-05-27. Wikimedia original unmodified.

End of the motorway. End of the motorway.

English • End of motorway.

Română • Sfârșit de autostradă.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Legislatie.just.ro • HG nr. 1391/2006 • anexa nr. 2 • C2 • Monitorul Oficial nr. 876/2006, p. 46

SVG source: Gigillo83 • CC BY-SA 4.0 • Original revision 2015-05-27. Wikimedia original unmodified.

What speed limit applies to cars on a motorway in Romania?

For an ordinary category B car, the normal motorway maximum is 130 km/h. Lower posted limits apply. Drivers with less than one year of experience and vehicles towing trailers are subject to lower statutory limits; do not treat 130 km/h as applying to every driver and vehicle.

🔗 legislatie.just.ro • Romania, OUG 195/2002 — articles 6, 48–50, 74; Regulation 121, 142, 169–170

🔗 legislatie.just.ro • Romania, HG1391/2006 implementing Regulation — articles 121, 142, 169–170

Who may use a motorway in Romania?

Pedestrians, bicycles, electric scooters, mopeds, animals and agricultural tractors are among the excluded road users. Vehicles that cannot exceed 50 km/h because of their design or condition are also excluded.

🔗 legislatie.just.ro • Romania, OUG 195/2002 — articles 6, 48–50, 74; Regulation 121, 142, 169–170

🔗 legislatie.just.ro • Romania, HG1391/2006 implementing Regulation — articles 121, 142, 169–170

Can I use the emergency lane on a Romanian motorway?

Do not drive, stop or park in the emergency lane or on the shoulder without a justified reason. Emergency use and authorised priority vehicles have specific exceptions. An ordinary queue does not make the emergency lane an extra traffic lane.

🔗 legislatie.just.ro • Romania, OUG 195/2002 — articles 6, 48–50, 74; Regulation 121, 142, 169–170

🔗 legislatie.just.ro • Romania, HG1391/2006 implementing Regulation — articles 121, 142, 169–170

1 Romania 2 Motorway 3 Built-up area 4 Speed limit 5 Stop sign 6 Priority road 7 Railway crossing 8 School area 9 Slippery road 10 Roadworks 11 Radar speed sign 12 Traffic lights 13 Driving licence 14 International border 15 No stopping 16 Traffic management 17 Reversing 18 Road surface 19 Licence plate 20 Bus 21 Police 22 Ambulance 23 European emission standard 24 Pothole 25 Path 26 Particulates 27 Air pollution 28 Rush hour 29 Road code 30 Street gutter 31 Cargo bike 32 Forestry vehicle 33 Construction vehicle 34 Semi-trailer truck 35 Trolleybus 36 Speed pedelec 37 Delivery vehicle 38 Idling 39 Tow truck 40 Four-wheel drive 41 Bicycle 42 Motorcycle equipment 43 Rail track 44 Caravan 45 Trailer 46 Tow hitch 47 Fire truck 48 Siren 49 Convoy 50 Emergency vehicle lighting 51 Agricultural machinery 52 Electric bicycle 53 Electric vehicle 54 Pedelec 55 Quadricycle 56 Microcar 57 All-terrain vehicle 58 Van 59 Recreational vehicle 60 Scooter 61 Trikke 62 Personal mobility device 63 Skateboard 64 Segway 65 Kick scooter 66 Roller skates 67 Mailman 68 Hitchhiker 69 Toddler 70 Child 71 Disability 72 Motorail 73 km/h 74 mph 75 Speedometer 76 Ride height 77 Dirt road 78 Driving 79 Start-stop system 80 Manual transmission 81 Automatic transmission 82 Throttle 83 Tachometer 84 Steering wheel 85 Power steering 86 Visual scanning 87 Mirror 88 Fuel 89 Fuel gauge 90 Petrol 91 Diesel 92 Diesel exhaust fluid 93 Car insurance 94 First aid kit 95 Fire extinguisher 96 High-visibility clothing 97 First aid 98 Concrete step barrier 99 Barriers 100 Vehicle lights ...