Driving Differences: Australia vs Denmark Safety Tips
Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations between Australia and Denmark, crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. From distinct driving orientations—left in Australia and right in Denmark—to unique speed limits and traffic protocols, understanding these disparities can significantly enhance your travel safety and driving experience. Prepare to navigate these diverse landscapes with confidence!
Lanes
| Australia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Used temporarily in construction zones. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic. |
| 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 bicycles and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | Not applicable |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
denmark:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
denmark:
Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
denmark:
Used temporarily in construction zones.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
denmark:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
denmark:
Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
denmark:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
denmark:
Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
denmark:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
denmark:
Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
denmark:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
denmark:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 110-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Yes, for minor offenses. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
denmark:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
denmark:
110-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
denmark:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
denmark:
Yes, for minor offenses.
Signals
| Australia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Used before green. |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Danish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
denmark:
Used before green.
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
denmark:
Danish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
denmark:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Australia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign. |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
denmark:
Not allowed
Left Turn: General
australia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
denmark:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
denmark:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.
Documentation
| Australia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays |
| 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 periodic inspections for vehicles |
| 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 | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
denmark:
Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
denmark:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
denmark:
Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
denmark:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
denmark:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
denmark:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
denmark:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; carried out by the police |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
denmark:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
denmark:
Common; carried out by the police
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
denmark:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal left if taking any exit other than first |
| 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
denmark:
Signal left if taking any exit other than first
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
denmark:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
denmark:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Contact general emergency to report traffic issues |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Contact your insurer or patrol services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
denmark:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
denmark:
Contact general emergency to report traffic issues
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
denmark:
Contact your insurer or patrol services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
denmark:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
denmark:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines apply, use of hands-free required |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Significant fines and possible license points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically within 14 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
denmark:
Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
denmark:
Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
denmark:
Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
denmark:
Fines apply, use of hands-free required
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
denmark:
Significant fines and possible license points
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
denmark:
Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
denmark:
Varies; typically within 14 days