Driving in Australia vs Norway: Key Differences Explained
Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations between Australia and Norway to enhance your travel experience. From distinctive lane usage and speed limits to varying traffic signal protocols, drivers can navigate these countries with confidence. Understanding these key variations ensures safer journeys and fosters greater awareness while driving abroad.
Lanes
| Australia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
norway:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
norway:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| 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 | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90-100 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. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
norway:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
norway:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Norway |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
norway:
Not used in Norway
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
norway:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Australia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| 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.
norway:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Roundabouts
| Australia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
norway:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
norway:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Yes, typically required |
| 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
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay