Driving in Australia vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
When exploring the roadways of Australia and Saudi Arabia, travelers must navigate notable variations in traffic regulations and safety protocols. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Australia versus the right in Saudi Arabia, differing speed limits, and unique lane usage rules. Understanding these factors is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Australia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
saudi arabia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
australia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Australia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
saudi arabia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Turns
| Australia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| 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.
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| 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, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
australia:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
australia:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Roundabouts
| Australia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
saudi arabia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
saudi arabia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
saudi arabia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 993 |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay