Driving Differences: Australia vs South Korea Explained
When embarking on a journey, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for ensuring safety. This comparison between Australia and South Korea reveals notable distinctions, such as driving on the left in Australia and the right in South Korea, along with variations in speed limits and traffic protocols. Stay informed to drive confidently abroad!
Lanes
| Australia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| 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 |
| 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 during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
south korea:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
south korea:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
south korea:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
south korea:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
south korea:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
south korea:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south korea:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
south korea:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in South Korea |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
south korea:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Australia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| 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 | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
south korea:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
australia:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Australia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
south korea:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
south korea:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Yes |
| 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
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay