Driving Differences: Australia vs. Russia Explained
When navigating the roads of Australia and Russia, drivers encounter significant contrasts in traffic norms and regulations. From driving on opposite sides of the road to diverse speed limits and unique overtaking rules, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring your safety abroad. Read on to explore the driving landscape of these two distinct nations.
Lanes
| Australia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided 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 taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
russia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
russia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
russia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
russia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
russia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 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 | 90 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; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
russia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| Australia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Russia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Russian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
russia:
Not used in Russia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
russia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Australia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Australia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
| 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.
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
russia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.035% |
| 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, especially in cities |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
russia:
0.035%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
russia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
russia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
russia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
russia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
russia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
russia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay