Driving in Australia vs. Bolivia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Australia and Bolivia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experience. From driving on opposite sides to varied speed limits and lane usage, understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring safe travels. This comparison will illuminate the unique driving landscapes of both nations, helping travelers adapt effectively.
Lanes
| Australia | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
bolivia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
bolivia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
bolivia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
bolivia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
bolivia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
bolivia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
bolivia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
bolivia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
bolivia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
bolivia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
bolivia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No, not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Yes, fines can be issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
bolivia:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
bolivia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
bolivia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
bolivia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
australia:
Yes
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
Signals
| Australia | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Bolivia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Only to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
bolivia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
australia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
australia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
bolivia:
Spanish
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Australia | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
bolivia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
bolivia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; checkpoints often used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies, can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
bolivia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
bolivia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
bolivia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
bolivia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
bolivia:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
bolivia:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
bolivia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
bolivia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; may result in points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines may apply, varies by location |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines apply and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
bolivia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly