Driving in Australia vs. Georgia: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Australia and Georgia, understanding the unique driving customs and regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include the driving side—left in Australia and right in Georgia—along with varied speed limits and overtaking rules. Explore these vital contrasts to ensure your driving experience remains secure and enjoyable abroad.
Lanes
| Australia | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | Minimum two or three occupants |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
georgia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
georgia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
georgia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
georgia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
georgia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
georgia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 110-120 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: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
georgia:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
georgia:
20-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
georgia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
georgia:
110-120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
georgia:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Georgian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
georgia:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
georgia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Australia | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on license plate or 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.
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
georgia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
georgia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
georgia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
georgia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
georgia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
georgia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
georgia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
georgia:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
georgia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
georgia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
georgia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
georgia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
georgia:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
georgia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
georgia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | 50 GEL |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | 10 GEL |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | 200 GEL |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible; but usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
georgia:
50 GEL
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
georgia:
10 GEL
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
georgia:
200 GEL
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days