Driving in Australia vs. Monaco: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the roads of Australia and Monaco, it's crucial to understand their unique traffic regulations and driving conventions. From the contrasting sides of the road they operate on—left in Australia and right in Monaco—to their speed limits and lane usage, these distinctions play a vital role in ensuring safety while driving abroad. Stay informed to navigate confidently!
Lanes
| Australia | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mostly on main roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Predominantly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled ‘BUS’. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with small vehicles or buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. |
| 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. | Standard speed limits apply |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
monaco:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
monaco:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
monaco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
australia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
monaco:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
monaco:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Standard speed limits apply |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Common for traffic violations |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
monaco:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
monaco:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
Signals
| Australia | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Rare in Monaco, usually not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
australia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
monaco:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Australia | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Permitted where indicated; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
monaco:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted; 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 annually; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on the vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| 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.
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
monaco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Can be substantial; varies by severity |
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
monaco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
Roundabouts
| Australia | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
monaco:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
monaco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
monaco:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 or 18 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Local police also available on 911 using GSM |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Available through service providers or insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
monaco:
112 or 18
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
monaco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; fines are substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fine applies if not used |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Substantial fines issued |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | High fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible; varies |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically must be settled soon |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
monaco:
High fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
monaco:
Possible; varies
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon