Driving in Algeria vs South Africa: Key Differences Revealed

When navigating the diverse roads of Algeria and South Africa, it's crucial to understand the unique regulations and practices that govern their transportation systems. From varying speed limits to distinct lane usages and overtaking rules, these contrasts significantly impact safety and compliance. Prepare for a journey enriched by awareness and adaptability as you explore these two fascinating countries.

algeriasouth africa

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in algeria is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in algeria is 46

0.339 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for algeria is 0.339 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Algeria	South africa
Driving Side	Right	Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left	Yes	Allowed
Overtaking: On Right	Prohibited except on one-way roads.	Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use rightmost lane.	Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence	No	Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage	Not applicable	Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Not applicable	May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	No	Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Not applicable	Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Not applicable	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	Not applicable	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Not applicable	N/A

Driving Side

algeria:

Right

south africa:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

algeria:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

south africa:

Marks the right edge on roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

algeria:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

south africa:

Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.

Overtaking: On Left

algeria:

Yes

south africa:

Allowed

Overtaking: On Right

algeria:

Prohibited except on one-way roads.

south africa:

Prohibited unless turning.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

algeria:

Use rightmost lane.

south africa:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

algeria:

south africa:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

algeria:

Not applicable

south africa:

Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.

Bus Lanes: Markings

algeria:

Not applicable

south africa:

May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

algeria:

south africa:

Yes

Cycle Lanes: Usage

algeria:

Not applicable

south africa:

Exclusive for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

algeria:

Not applicable

south africa:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

algeria:

Not applicable

south africa:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

algeria:

Not applicable

south africa:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Algeria	South africa
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	50 km/h	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	90 km/h	100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	100 km/h	100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	90 km/h	80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Not applicable	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Yes, common in South Africa

Urban Areas: Standard

algeria:

50 km/h

south africa:

40-60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

algeria:

50 km/h

south africa:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

algeria:

90 km/h

south africa:

100 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

algeria:

80 km/h

south africa:

80-100 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

algeria:

100 km/h

south africa:

100-120 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

algeria:

90 km/h

south africa:

80-100 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

algeria:

Not applicable

south africa:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

algeria:

Yes

south africa:

Yes, common in South Africa

Signals

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	Algeria	South africa
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not typically used	Not used in South Africa
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language	Arabic and French; symbols are standard	English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Usually triangular with red borders	Triangular shape with a red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

algeria:

Not typically used

south africa:

Not used in South Africa

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

algeria:

Excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

south africa:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

Traffic Signs: Language

algeria:

Arabic and French; symbols are standard

south africa:

English; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

algeria:

Usually triangular with red borders

south africa:

Triangular shape with a red border

Turns

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	Algeria		South africa
Right Turn On Red	Usually not allowed unless indicated		Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Generally allowed unless prohibited by sign		Allowed at designated places; check for signs.

Right Turn On Red

algeria:

Usually not allowed unless indicated

south africa:

Not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

algeria:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by sign

south africa:

Allowed at designated places; check for signs.

Documentation

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	Algeria	South africa
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted with International Driving Permit	Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted with International Driving Permit	Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory every few years, varies based on vehicle age	Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on windshield	Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended	Not mandatory

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

algeria:

Accepted with International Driving Permit

south africa:

Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

algeria:

Accepted with International Driving Permit

south africa:

Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

algeria:

Mandatory every few years, varies based on vehicle age

south africa:

Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

algeria:

Displayed on windshield

south africa:

Not applicable

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

algeria:

Recommended

south africa:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Algeria	South africa
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	More frequent use than in some countries	Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority	Pedestrians have right of way at marked crosswalks	Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
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

algeria:

More frequent use than in some countries

south africa:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Pedestrians Priority

algeria:

Pedestrians have right of way at marked crosswalks

south africa:

Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

algeria:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

south africa:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Algeria	South africa
Limits: General Drivers	0.02%	0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Checkpoints used especially on holidays	Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines	Varies; can be substantial	Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and additional fines

Limits: General Drivers

algeria:

0.02%

south africa:

0.05%

Limits: Professional Drivers

algeria:

0.00%

south africa:

0.02%

Limits: Underage Drivers

algeria:

0.00%; zero tolerance

south africa:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

algeria:

Checkpoints used especially on holidays

south africa:

Common; roadblocks are used frequently

Enforcement: Fines

algeria:

Varies; can be substantial

south africa:

Substantial; varies based on offense

Test Refusal

algeria:

Can result in license suspension

south africa:

Can result in license suspension and additional fines

Roundabouts

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	Algeria		South africa
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

algeria:

Signal right when preparing to exit

south africa:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Algeria	South africa
Contact: General Emergency	1548	112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police	17	Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact insurance provider or auto club	Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

algeria:

1548

south africa:

112 or 10111

Contact: Traffic Police

algeria:

south africa:

Call general emergency number

Contact: Roadside Assistance

algeria:

Contact insurance provider or auto club

south africa:

Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

algeria:

Recommended

south africa:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Algeria	South africa
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; can reach up to several thousand dinars	Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Alcohol	Heavy fines, possible jail time	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines imposed for non-compliance	Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines imposed for non-compliance	Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines imposed, may include points on license	Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; also through post or bank	Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must be paid promptly	Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

algeria:

Varies; can reach up to several thousand dinars

south africa:

Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed

Common Fines: Alcohol

algeria:

Heavy fines, possible jail time

south africa:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

algeria:

Fines imposed for non-compliance

south africa:

Common fine; mandatory use

Common Fines: Phone Use

algeria:

Fines imposed for non-compliance

south africa:

Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

algeria:

Fines imposed, may include points on license

south africa:

Fines applicable

Payment: On The Spot

algeria:

Possible; also through post or bank

south africa:

Yes, common with road checkpoints

Payment: Deadline

algeria:

Varies; typically must be paid promptly

south africa:

Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay