Driving Differences: Australia vs Spain Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road rules is essential for safe travels. This comparison between Australia and Spain reveals significant contrasts: from driving on the left in Australia to the right in Spain, and varying speed limits in urban and rural areas. Navigating these distinctions can enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Australia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| 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 taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | Minimum two or three occupants |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
spain:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
spain:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
spain:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
spain:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
spain:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 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 | 90 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, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Australia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Spain |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
spain:
Not used in Spain
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
spain:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Australia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Australia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| 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.
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
| 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
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
spain:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
australia:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Australia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
spain:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
spain:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
spain:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| 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
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay