Driving in Australia vs. Israel: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the distinct road rules and regulations of Australia and Israel, drivers must be aware of pivotal contrasts in their approach to traffic management. From driving sides and lane usage to speed limits and penalties, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Equip yourself with essential insights for safer travels!
Lanes
| Australia | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that 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
israel:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
israel:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
israel:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
israel:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
israel:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 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
israel:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
israel:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
israel:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
israel:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
israel:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Used before green light. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
israel:
Used before green light.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
israel:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
australia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Australia | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
israel:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Roundabouts
| Australia | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
israel:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
israel:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Check 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 | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay