Driving in Afghanistan vs Australia: Key Differences
Driving in Afghanistan and Australia presents distinct challenges and rules that travelers must navigate. Key differences include driving on the right versus the left, variable speed limit regulations, and the presence of dedicated bus and cycle lanes in Australia. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure experience on the roads of each country.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
afghanistan:
Right
australia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
Overtaking: On Left
afghanistan:
Yes
australia:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
afghanistan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
afghanistan:
Use rightmost lane.
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
australia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
australia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
australia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
australia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
australia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Common; may vary by area. |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
australia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
australia:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
australia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
australia:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
australia:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
australia:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
australia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
Signals
| Afghanistan | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not commonly used. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
australia:
Not commonly used.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
afghanistan:
Signal when exiting
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
australia:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Afghanistan | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Not allowed, except where signage permits. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
afghanistan:
Displayed on windshield
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
afghanistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Varies by state; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
australia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
australia:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Afghanistan | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal right if intending to turn immediately |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
afghanistan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
Signaling: Exiting
afghanistan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
afghanistan:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 000 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | Varies by state; contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA |
Contact: General Emergency
afghanistan:
112
australia:
000
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay