Driving in Australia vs. Serbia: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique regulations and practices of driving in Australia and Serbia. With contrasting rules on lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol tolerance, navigating the roads can vary significantly between these countries. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure experience behind the wheel while exploring new destinations.
Lanes
| Australia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
serbia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
serbia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
serbia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
serbia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
serbia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 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 |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Serbia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
serbia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Australia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
serbia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Roundabouts
| Australia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
serbia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay