Driving in Australia vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina: Key Differences
Understanding the nuances of road rules is crucial for travelers. This comparison between Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina reveals significant contrasts, such as driving on opposite sides and varying speed limits. With distinct regulations on overtaking, emergency protocols, and penalties, it's vital to grasp these variations for a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Australia | Bosnia and herzegovina | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 in one-way streets or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols, sometimes colored pavement. |
| 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
bosnia and herzegovina:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
bosnia and herzegovina:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Allowed in one-way streets or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Bicycle symbols, sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
bosnia and herzegovina:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
bosnia and herzegovina:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
bosnia and herzegovina:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
bosnia and herzegovina:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Bosnia and herzegovina | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Yes, frequently used |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
bosnia and herzegovina:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
bosnia and herzegovina:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
bosnia and herzegovina:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
bosnia and herzegovina:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
bosnia and herzegovina:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
bosnia and herzegovina:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
bosnia and herzegovina:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
bosnia and herzegovina:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
bosnia and herzegovina:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Yes, frequently used
Signals
| Australia | Bosnia and herzegovina | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unreasonable use prohibited |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
bosnia and herzegovina:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
australia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
bosnia and herzegovina:
Unreasonable use prohibited
Headlight Flash: Usage
australia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
bosnia and herzegovina:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
bosnia and herzegovina:
Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
bosnia and herzegovina:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Australia | Bosnia and herzegovina | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed when not prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Allowed when not prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Australia | Bosnia and herzegovina | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on 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.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
bosnia and herzegovina:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
bosnia and herzegovina:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
bosnia and herzegovina:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
bosnia and herzegovina:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
bosnia and herzegovina:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Bosnia and herzegovina | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
bosnia and herzegovina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Bosnia and herzegovina | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial fines possible |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
bosnia and herzegovina:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
bosnia and herzegovina:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
bosnia and herzegovina:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
bosnia and herzegovina:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
bosnia and herzegovina:
Substantial fines possible
Test Refusal
australia:
Can result in license suspension
bosnia and herzegovina:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Australia | Bosnia and herzegovina | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
bosnia and herzegovina:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
bosnia and herzegovina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
bosnia and herzegovina:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Bosnia and herzegovina | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 122 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Usually provided by insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
bosnia and herzegovina:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
bosnia and herzegovina:
122
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
bosnia and herzegovina:
Usually provided by insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
bosnia and herzegovina:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
bosnia and herzegovina:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Bosnia and herzegovina | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; fines can be significant |
| 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 apply, usage prohibited unless hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically within a few weeks |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
bosnia and herzegovina:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
bosnia and herzegovina:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
bosnia and herzegovina:
Fines apply, usage prohibited unless hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
bosnia and herzegovina:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
bosnia and herzegovina:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
bosnia and herzegovina:
Varies; typically within a few weeks