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DRUGS

Intoxicated man drives with convertible top down in subzero temperatures

Drugs are dangerous but they keep out the cold. This at least was the effect on an Austrian caught driving his cabriolet in subzero temperatures at night -- with the roof down.

Published: 30 January 2017 14:20 CET
Intoxicated man drives with convertible top down in subzero temperatures
Photo: welcomia/Depositphotos
Austrian police said that the man “drew attention” over the weekend just before midnight, when it was -6C, not including the wind chill factor from driving.
 
Stopped near Wels in northern Austria, the 24-year-old told police that he had driven like this all the way from Linz, which is about 30 kilometres (20 miles) or 40 minutes away.
 
“After establishing that due to the influence of drugs, he was incapable of driving, police wanted to take away his licence,” a statement said. “But this was not possible since he had already lost the right to drive some time ago due to drugs offences,” it added.
 
The man tested positive for amphetamines and cannabis.

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DRIVING

New vignettes needed for driving on Austria’s autobahns to go on sale

Regular drivers on Austria’s autobahns will be familiar with the adhesive vignettes that need to be displayed on their car windshield, lest they risk a €120 fine.

Published: 20 November 2023 17:41 CET
New vignettes needed for driving on Austria's autobahns to go on sale

The new vignette, which comes in a sunny yellow, as opposed to 2023’s purple will go on sale on Wednesday November 22nd.

The price remains unchanged from last year with an annual vignette costing €96.40 for a car, or €38.50 for a motorcycle.

The new 2024 vignettes can be purchased at over 6,000 locations across Austria, including gas stations, toll booths, tobacconists, ÖAMTC, ARBÖ and ADAC locations.

Alternatively, digital vignettes have been available since the 13th of November, costing the same amount. These can be purchased at the same locations, or online via the ASFINAG website. These digital vignettes work by verifying your car’s registration, which is picked up by cameras when using the autobahn network.

Be aware, however, that due to new European laws, these digital vignettes only become valid eighteen days after purchase – so it’s a very good idea to plan ahead.

READ MORE: What you need to know about Austria’s new autobahn fees for 2024

The 2-month (€28,90) 10-day (€11,50) and 1-day (€8,60) vignettes are also available as a digital vignette, for those who may only be visiting the country.

The existing purple vignettes will be valid until January 31st 2024, at which point motorists will need to either display their new yellow vignette or have obtained a digital version.

Austrian motorists have been required to display vignettes on their cars and motorcycles when using motorways since 1997. The money raised is reinvested by ASFINAG, the authority tasked with the building and maintenance of high-speed roads throughout the alpine country.

As of 2023, there are over 1,720 kilometres of autobahn in Austria with more currently in construction.

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