Driving Differences: Argentina vs South Africa Explained
Explore the fascinating contrasts in road rules and regulations between Argentina and South Africa. From lane usage to speed limits and emergency protocols, this comparison unveils vital distinctions that can impact your travel experience. Discover how driving etiquette and legal requirements vary, ensuring your journey abroad remains secure and enjoyable.
Lanes
| Argentina | 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 | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
Driving Side
argentina:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
argentina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
argentina:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
argentina:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common in South Africa |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Argentina | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Argentina | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Argentina | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | 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: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
argentina:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Argentina | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
argentina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Argentina | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay