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.

australiasouth africa

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in australia is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in australia is 87

1.032 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for australia is 1.032 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	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:

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

australia:

Minimum two or more occupants

south africa:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

australia:

Yes

south africa:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

australia:

Electronic signs display current limits.

south africa:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	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:

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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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