Driving Differences: Australia vs. Turkey Explained
When exploring the roads of Australia and Turkey, understanding their driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Australia versus the right in Turkey, as well as varying speed limits and lane usage rules. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts will enhance your travel experience and promote road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Australia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| 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 sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
turkey:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
turkey:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
turkey:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
turkey:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
turkey:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
turkey:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
turkey:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
turkey:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 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 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 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, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
turkey:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
turkey:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Australia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
turkey:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
australia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Australia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Australia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| 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.
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
turkey:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| 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 are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
turkey:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
turkey:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
australia:
Can result in license suspension
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Australia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
turkey:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
turkey:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
turkey:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges