Driving Differences: Australia vs El Salvador Explained
When navigating the roads of Australia or El Salvador, understanding the unique traffic regulations and cultural nuances is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Australia versus the right in El Salvador, diverse speed limits, and varying protocols for emergency vehicles. Explore these vital contrasts to enhance your travel experience.
Lanes
| Australia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: 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' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| 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
el salvador:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
el salvador:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
el salvador:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
el salvador:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
el salvador:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
el salvador:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
el salvador:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
el salvador:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 80-100 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
el salvador:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
el salvador:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
australia:
Yes
el salvador:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
el salvador:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not common in El Salvador |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; 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.
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Australia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 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.
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
el salvador:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
el salvador:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Australia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in some areas to communicate |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Yield and make way |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
el salvador:
Yield and make way
Alcohol
| Australia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial fines and penalties |
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
el salvador:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
el salvador:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
Roundabouts
| Australia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
el salvador:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
el salvador:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 120 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | 121 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
el salvador:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
el salvador:
120
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
el salvador:
121
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
el salvador:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
el salvador:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; $20 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | $20 to $50 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | $30 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | $50 to $200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Yes, frequently enforced |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
el salvador:
$20 to $50
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
el salvador:
$30 to $100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
el salvador:
$50 to $200
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay