Driving in Australia vs. Italy: Key Safety Differences
Discover the vital contrasts in road regulations between Australia and Italy, essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and alcohol restrictions, understanding these distinctions can significantly enhance your driving experience. Equip yourself with knowledge to navigate the unique challenges each country presents.
Lanes
| Australia | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. |
| 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
italy:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
italy:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
italy:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
italy:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 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. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
italy:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
italy:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
italy:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
italy:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
italy:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Australia | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Used; prepare to go when green appears |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Italian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
italy:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Australia | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on license plate |
| 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.
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
italy:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
italy:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
italy:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
italy:
Substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
italy:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
italy:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
italy:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 113 (State Police) |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | 116 (ACI) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
italy:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
italy:
113 (State Police)
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
italy:
116 (ACI)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Varies; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines apply, strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines apply, may include points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible, especially for foreign drivers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
italy:
Varies; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days