Driving Differences: Argentina vs Australia Explained
Explore the fascinating contrasts between driving in Argentina and Australia. From distinct lane usage rules and speed limits to unique traffic signals and emergency protocols, each country presents a unique approach to road safety. Understanding these variations is crucial for a secure driving experience while navigating their diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Argentina | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. |
| 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
argentina:
Right
australia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
argentina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
argentina:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
Overtaking: On Left
argentina:
Yes
australia:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
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
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
argentina:
No
australia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
argentina:
No
australia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 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 | Common; may vary by area. |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
australia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
australia:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
australia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
australia:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
australia:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
australia:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
argentina:
No
australia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
Signals
| Argentina | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not commonly used. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
australia:
Not commonly used.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
argentina:
Signal when exiting
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
australia:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Argentina | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed, except where signage permits. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
Documentation
| Argentina | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
australia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
australia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | 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
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies by state; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
australia:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Argentina | 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
argentina:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
Signaling: Exiting
argentina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
argentina:
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
| Argentina | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 000 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Varies by state; contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
australia:
000
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay