Useful news...
Practical suggestions and information to consult before and during your trip in Austria.

ASSISTANCE
144 (ambulance), 133 (police), 122 (fire brigade), 140 (mountain rescue), 120 (ŐAMTC emergency breakdown service); 123 (ARBŐ emergency breakdown service), 0043-1-71197 (traffic information).

SANITARY REGULATIONS
TEAM (European Health Insurance Card) will replace from 1st January 2006 all current paper forms (E111, E112 forms). This application form entitles all EU citizens to free medical care across the EU, though there may be a charge for some medication. Nationals of other countries should check whether their government has a reciprocal health agreement with Austria, or whether they are covered by their personal medical insurance.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
Passport or Personal Identity card for UE citizens. Valid passport for other nationalities (compulsory for extra UE citizen). For more information is advisable to contact the Embassy of Austria in Rome, Tel: (+39) 06 844 01 41, Fax: (+39) 06 854 32 86. The Italian driving license is accepted. Motor insurance certificate and a vehicle registration or equivalent are required. The “Green card” is not compulsory any more for vehicles registered in Italy. If the vehicle is not registered in your name, carry a letter from the registered owner giving you a permission to drive. Up to date information can be found by visiting ACI web-site.

RESTRICTIONS
Commercial vehicles exceeding 3,5t must not travel: on Saturdays from 15,00 to 24,00, on Sundays and Holidays from 24,00 to 22,00. Commercial vehicles exceeding 7,5t must not travel in centre from 22,00 to 05,00. It is illegal to drive and use a hand-held mobile phone when driving. Permissible alcohol limit 0,049%. Further information available by visiting ACI web-site.

SPEED LIMITS
50Kmh-in build-up areas (40Kmh motorcycles)
30Kmh-in Graz.
100Kmh-on country roads (passenger cars with light trailers up to 7,5t towing vehicles of a maximum total weight of 3,5t).
130Kmh-on motorways (if not otherwise indicated on road signs).

TOLL PAYMENTS
Highways in Austria are generally subject to toll. The toll is effected by purchasing a toll sticker (die Vignette) to be attached on the windscreen. The toll sticker can be bought at many petrol stations close to the border in neighbouring countries, at the frontier in Austria or directly in Austria at the “Automobile Clubs OAMTC”, in Italy at the service area “Fella Est” located on the A23 Italian Motorway close to the border. Toll stickers can be found in three patterns: yearly sticker, 2-Month sticker and 10-day sticker. Toll fees valid until the January 31st 2008:
Motorcycles: 10-days (€4,3); 2months (€10,90), yearly (€29,00);
Cars: 10-days (€7,6); 2months (€21,80), yearly(€72,60).
In addition to the toll sticker there are other charges for different stretches of highways or for tunnels. At the exit of the South Innsbruck tollbooth only the toll fee at Bridge Europa tollgate is compulsory.
New automatic toll payment system: from January 1st 2004 all vehicles with a maximum admissible weight of more than 3,5t must be equipped with a on-board device, the so-called “GO-Box”. The Go-Box is available as for now from around 220 Go Service and sales outlets in Austria and neighbouring countries. Free information by dialling: 00800 400 11 400.

DRIVING SAFETY REGULATIONS AND EQUIPMENT
Automobile and motorcycle drivers must wear crash helmets (motorcyclist and passenger), wear seatbelts (children under the age of 14, who are below a height of 150cm, must be seated in an appropriate child-safety seat in front as well as in back), carry a warning triangle, a first-aid kit and a spare tire, turn on the dipped headlights even during the day. Studded tires can be used from November 15th until Easter time only by trucks up to 3,5t, with speed restrictions adopted: 80 Km/h on dual carriageway, 100 Km/h on motorways. Chains are admitted. In this case the maximum speed advised is 40Km/h. GB sticker: UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer need a GB sticker when driving in European Union countries.

MOBILE COMMUNICATION
Tim: 119, abroad +39 339 9119 on payment, www.tim.it
Vodafone: 190, abroad +39 349 2000 190 on payment, www.vodafone.it
Wind: 158, abroad +39 320 5000 158 on payment, www.wind.it
In case of emergency, from any GSM, even without Sim Card, dial the 112 (Emergency Customer Service).

PETROL
Euro Super (unleaded 95-octane);
Super Plus (unleaded 98-octane);
Diesel, GPL (at service areas a special additive is purchasable for no-catalytic vehicles).
Methane: 8 plants

TELEPHONE AND CURRENCY
International telephone access code for Austria (from Italy) is 0043 + code area (without zero) + local phone number. To place an outgoing international call from Austria, dial 0039 + code area (including zero) + local phone number.

CURRENCY
Euro: credit cards are accepted in cities and tourist centres by numerous hotels, restaurants, shops and gas stations.

USEFUL LINKS
Italian Embassy in Vienna
Tourist office
Austria Info
Sanitary assistance