Driving Differences: Australia vs North Macedonia Explained
When it comes to navigating the roads of Australia and North Macedonia, understanding their unique regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Notably, Australia drives on the left while North Macedonia opts for the right. Additionally, speed limits and lane usage vary significantly, impacting your road experience. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge for a secure drive abroad.
Lanes
| Australia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| 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 with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
| 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
north macedonia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
north macedonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
north macedonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
north macedonia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
north macedonia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 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 | 80 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: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
north macedonia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Prepare to go |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| 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
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
north macedonia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
australia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
australia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
australia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Australia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
australia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
north macedonia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
north macedonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
north macedonia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay