Driving Safety: Australia vs. Morocco Explained
Embarking on a journey through Australia or Morocco? Understanding the distinct rules of the road is essential for ensuring your safety abroad. From driving on different sides to varying speed limits and traffic signals, this comparison highlights crucial contrasts that every traveler should know. Explore the unique driving landscapes of these two fascinating countries!
Lanes
| Australia | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Departure depends on specific roads. |
| 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. | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
morocco:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
morocco:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
morocco:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
australia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
morocco:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
morocco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
morocco:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
morocco:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 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 | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
morocco:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
morocco:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
morocco:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
morocco:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
morocco:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
morocco:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
morocco:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Morocco |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
australia:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
morocco:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Australia | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
morocco:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Annual inspection required. |
| 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.
morocco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
morocco:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
morocco:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
morocco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
morocco:
Substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
morocco:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
morocco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
morocco:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 19 |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
morocco:
19
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| 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
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay