Digbydog

This summer we will be traveling from Lake Bled in Slovenia to the Dolomites. On the way we plan to visit Hochosterwitz Castle and then continue on through southern Austria. I see that there is now a requirement to have reflective safety vests for each occupant in the car. Given that we will only be in Austria for a few hours, do you think we can skate by without purchasing the vests?

anyegr

That sounds a bit odd. I did a quick Google search and found some info in English. It does say enough vests for each person and "heavy fines". Oh, dear. I wonder if that rule goes for buses too? And who is going to check to make sure the rule is followed?

I guess you could buy a really cheap flimsy thing. They don't weigh much. I don't know what they cost where you live.

Actually, I use a reflective safety vest over my usual jacket/coat in winter. It looks ugly, yes, but when I walk to/from the bus station in the dark it makes me more visible. But as far as I know there is no law about it where I live (in Sweden).

elberko

Assuming the car is a rental, maybe it will come with safety equipment?

Hochosterwitz is my favorite castle.

Christina

That isn't that odd, they have a law like that in France, also. In France, you also have to have a reflective safety triangle for the road. I think rentals usually come with that in France, so check.

I have a small one at home I wear when out walking at dusk or in the evening near my home. People often wear them for that (we have a hiker/biker trail near me), as well as when on a bike sometimes, at night. Safety guards wear bigger ones, mine doesn't cover as much. I got mine as some sporting goods store, I believe.

It's like any law, as to who checks and how you get caught. YOu are checked if you are stopped for anything or something like that. I don't know if they have random road checks there for that or not. It's like how would you get caught if you didn't even have a license. You might not.

http://www.theaa.com/public_affairs/...in-france.html

asps

Reflective vests are compulsory in Italy too.

bvlenci

I believe only one reflective vest is required per car, and I believe it's an EU directive. We keep one in each of our cars. I would think a rental car would come equipped with one, as well as with the required reflective triangles to put on the road behind your broken-down car. The idea is that the person who places the triangles needs to wear the reflective vest, and that other passengers either stay in the car or well off the roadway.

flanneruk

There is no legal requirement in Italy or Slovenia to have a hi-vis jacket in your car: but it IS a legal requirement in both countries for everyone in the car to wear one if they leave the car and walk along the road.

There is no check on vehicles entering Austria, and it's virtually impossible you'll be stopped and checked. In the unlikely event of your seeming to break some other law, it's probable the presence of a jacket will be checked. I'd suggest the likelihood, in a two hour journey, of your being checked is about as high as being struck by lightning. Twice.

If caught, the fine's €14-€36. In cash.

We always keep two high-vis jackets in our car, because we'd otherwise forget when driving to Europe's obsessive regulation belt (roughly coterminous with the Eurozone.) We usually find them already provided if we hire cars in one of our overgoverned neighbours. We don't take them with us, or check for their presence when hiring.

You must do what you think best.

There is no EU directive about the use of high-vis jackets (though no doubt the usual urban myth machines have invented such fantasies). The states mandating these things have done so without any direction from nanny.

luz_de_lisboa

Ikea sells those vests for €3 each

Finecheapboxofwine

Compulsory in Sweden too. Or for the driver at least. I would think your rental car would have a triangle and vest packet in the trunk/boot of the car.

Finecheapboxofwine

Anyegr? Isn't it compulsory here? Every car I've driven has had the triangle and vest combo underneath the backluckan? Have to check back to my driver's training books again.

chartley

In some countries, the safety vest must be kept inside the car, and you must put them on before you get out onto the roadway. Storing them somewhere inaccessible is not a good idea.

We bought some vests many years ago on a day trip to Belgium. They are cheap, and a useful precaution against getting mown down by another driver.

Now if I only really understood what a backluckan was ...

Digbydog

Thanks everyone for your replies. We are renting the car in Italy, so I am not sure the rental will supply them. I would rather not bring them from home, as we will be traveling with carry-ons. Evidently you can purchase them at the border where you purchase a vignette. Guess I will just see if we are feeling lucky.

Elberko--glad to hear you love Hochosterwitz!

elberko

It sounds like you are just passing through the area, but if you have time we really enjoyed the roman ruins nearby:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...rian_Alps.html

AlessandraZoe

Digbydog--This rule was a new one on me.

HOWEVER...
There are so many possible vests out there online that weigh NOTHING, so light that even though I, the person who strips the tags off my ginger tea bags when I travel, would not worry about the added weight.

And I think it's a great idea to have one in the car at home for when one needs to get out at the side of the road. Plus one can always use it cycling (my use).

I purchased featherweight ones for my husband and daughter who insisted on running in total darkness for under $10 each two years ago.

chartley

$10! You were robbed.

They cost £4.99 each at Halfords in the U.K. And only £3.99 for the kids size. Including VAT.

AlessandraZoe

My emphasis is on TWO YEARS ago--and with sales tax, rather hefty in my US State, they were WELL under $10 even then.

They are in bins near cash registers everywhere now for almost nothing that now that everyone understands how darn useful they are and now that everyone is buying them (competition).

And the so-called "lightweight" ones I bought two years are heavy compared to this year's offerings.

Sort of like iphone 3.

anyegr

Finecheapboxofwine: I don't have a driver's license, so I never drive and don't own a car. So I don't know what the law says. I've never heard my parents mention it, though, but they are over seventy and got their licenses a long time ago. I do know that the first time my mother saw me in my reflective vest she said it was a good idea and she should get one herself. Surely, that must mean she didn't have one before. And she does drive.

They do have the triangle. I've seen my father use it once.