Driving in Austria vs. South Africa: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations between Austria and South Africa, distinct contrasts emerge that are vital for ensuring safety while driving abroad. From lane usage—where Austrians drive on the right and South Africans on the left—to varying speed limits and protocols for emergency vehicles, understanding these nuances can greatly enhance your driving experience. Explore these essential driving distinctions to navigate confidently on international roads.
Lanes
| Austria | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
austria:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
austria:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
austria:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Austria | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 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; fines may also be mailed. | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
austria:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
austria:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Austria | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in South Africa |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
south africa:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Austria | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Austria | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof may be required | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
austria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Austria | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
austria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Austria | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
south africa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
austria:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Austria | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
austria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Austria | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
austria:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay