Driving in Australia vs Dominican Republic: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Australia and the Dominican Republic, drivers encounter notable contrasts in regulations and practices. From the distinct driving sides to varying speed limits and lane usage, understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a secure experience abroad. Familiarizing yourself with local rules can significantly enhance your travel safety.
Lanes
| Australia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Often not marked. |
| 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
dominican republic:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
dominican republic:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
dominican republic:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
dominican republic:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
dominican republic:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
australia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
dominican republic:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
dominican republic:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
dominican republic:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
dominican republic:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No; speed checks are done by police radar |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Possible for traffic infractions |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
dominican republic:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
dominican republic:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
dominican republic:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
dominican republic:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
dominican republic:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
dominican republic:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
australia:
Yes
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
Signals
| Australia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Dominican Republic |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in many situations |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
dominican republic:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
australia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Australia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Yes, 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 | Required |
| 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.
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
dominican republic:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
dominican republic:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
australia:
Only in emergency situations
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in arrest and license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
dominican republic:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
australia:
Can result in license suspension
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Australia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
dominican republic:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
dominican republic:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 911 or designated local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required and recommended as a safety measure |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
dominican republic:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines for non-compliance with signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible for common violations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; often within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days