Driving Differences: Australia vs South Africa Explained
When exploring the roads of Australia and South Africa, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journey. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol enforcement, these countries showcase notable contrasts. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience behind the wheel while traveling abroad.
Lanes
| Australia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
south africa:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 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. | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Australia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in South Africa |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
south africa:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Australia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Australia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Not applicable |
| 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.
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
south africa:
Mandatory
Alcohol
| Australia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
australia:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Australia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| 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
south africa:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
south africa:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south africa:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay