Driving in Australia vs. Tanzania: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Australia and Tanzania, understanding the distinct traffic regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key disparities include lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol restrictions, which can significantly impact your driving experience. Discover how these two nations differ in their approach to road etiquette and safety measures.
Lanes
| Australia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the right 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 | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Yes |
| 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' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
| 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.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
tanzania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
tanzania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
tanzania:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
tanzania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-50 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 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: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Tanzania |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
tanzania:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Turns
| Australia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Required annually |
| 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.
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate usage compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Australia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
tanzania:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Roundabouts
| Australia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
tanzania:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
tanzania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
tanzania:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 112 |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Common |
| 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
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay