Driving Differences: Australia vs Romania Explained
When traversing the roads of Australia and Romania, understanding the nuances of their driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Australia versus the right in Romania, differing speed limits, and unique road markings. Familiarizing yourself with these variations can significantly enhance your travel experience and safety abroad.
Lanes
| Australia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: 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, mainly in urban areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
romania:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
romania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
romania:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
romania:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
romania:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 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 | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| 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. | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
romania:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Australia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Romania |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
romania:
Not used in Romania
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
romania:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
australia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Australia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Australia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspections 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.
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
| 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
romania:
Moderate use expected
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
romania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| 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; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
romania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Roundabouts
| Australia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
romania:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
romania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
romania:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
australia:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist