Driving in Australia vs Paraguay: Key Differences Unveiled
When exploring the driving landscape of Australia and Paraguay, distinct contrasts emerge that every traveler should understand. From lane usage to speed restrictions, Australia’s left-side driving contrasts sharply with Paraguay’s right-side rules. Additionally, unique regulations on overtaking and road signage significantly affect road safety in each nation. Prepare for a safer journey by grasping these crucial differences.
Lanes
| Australia | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| 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
paraguay:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
paraguay:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
paraguay:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
paraguay:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
paraguay:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
paraguay:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 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 | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
paraguay:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
australia:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Australia | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Paraguay |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
paraguay:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Australia | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
paraguay:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
australia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Australia | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
paraguay:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
paraguay:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
paraguay:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
paraguay:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 911 |
| 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 | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days