Abstract
This paper discusses a sustainable transport policy. Environmental targets have influenced Austrian transport policy more than that of other European countries. Traffic policy pursues the aims of improving heavy truck traffic, shifting goods from road to rail and waterways and avoiding unnecessary runs of trucks. Lorry traffic is improved in terms of noise and exhaust emissions. Shifting freight to rail and water transport has suffered problems of economic efficiency. Preventing unnecessary runs of empty trucks is limited by legal, information and economic constraints and the real (low) costs of road goods traffic. In general, although the Austrian transport policy is impressive, circumstances lead to ineffectiveness in practice.