Driving Differences: Australia vs. Philippines Explained
When navigating the roads of Australia and the Philippines, understanding the distinctions in traffic regulations and behaviors is crucial for ensuring safety. With Australia adhering to left-side driving and unique lane markings, while the Philippines follows right-side driving with its own set of rules, this comparison highlights essential aspects for travelers and expatriates alike.
Lanes
| Australia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| 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 PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
philippines:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
philippines:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
philippines:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
australia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
philippines:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
australia:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
philippines:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Australia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
philippines:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
philippines:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Australia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Australia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
australia:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Roundabouts
| Australia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
philippines:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
philippines:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
philippines:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
philippines:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance