Driving in Canada vs. Fiji: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Canada and Fiji, drivers encounter notable variations that significantly impact their travel experience. From differing driving sides—Canada on the right and Fiji on the left—to diverse speed regulations and lane usage rules, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in each country.
Lanes
| Canada | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
canada:
Right
fiji:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
Overtaking: On Left
canada:
Yes
fiji:
No
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
fiji:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
fiji:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
fiji:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
fiji:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
fiji:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
fiji:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
fiji:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
fiji:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
fiji:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
fiji:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
fiji:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 90 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
fiji:
50 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
fiji:
30 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
fiji:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
fiji:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
fiji:
60 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
fiji:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
fiji:
90 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
fiji:
80 kph
Speed Units
canada:
km/h
fiji:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
fiji:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
fiji:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
Signals
| Canada | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in Fiji |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
canada:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Canada | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Allowed only where indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
fiji:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
Documentation
| Canada | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
fiji:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
fiji:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
canada:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Canada | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Substantial fines, potential loss of license |
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
fiji:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
Emergency Services
| Canada | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Contact your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; $50 to $500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | Mandatory; fines can apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Fines apply; obey signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
Common Fines: Alcohol
canada:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days