Driving in Australia vs. Estonia: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Australia and Estonia, drivers encounter distinct regulations that can impact their journey. Key differences include driving on the left in Australia versus the right in Estonia, varied speed limits, and unique road markings. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasting rules is essential for ensuring a safe and smooth experience behind the wheel.
Lanes
| Australia | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
estonia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
estonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
estonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
estonia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
estonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 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 |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
estonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
estonia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
estonia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
estonia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
estonia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
estonia:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Estonia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Estonian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
australia:
Amber
estonia:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
estonia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Australia | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Prohibited unless indicated 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.
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Required every year; proof must be carried |
| 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.
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
estonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
estonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| 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; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
estonia:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
estonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
estonia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
estonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
estonia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
estonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
estonia:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
estonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
estonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; substantial fines apply |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
estonia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties