Driving in Australia vs. Venezuela: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Australia and Venezuela, drivers encounter notable variations in regulations and practices. From the distinct sides of the road each country adheres to—left in Australia and right in Venezuela—to contrasting speed limits and lane usage, understanding these disparities is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Explore the key aspects that set these driving environments apart.
Lanes
| Australia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| 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 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
venezuela:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
australia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
venezuela:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 70-90 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
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used |
| 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 | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
venezuela:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
venezuela:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Australia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Australia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on the windshield |
| 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.
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | 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
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
venezuela:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
venezuela:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
venezuela:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Yes, sometimes possible |
| 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
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay