Driving in Canada vs. South Africa: Key Differences Unveiled
When venturing from Canada to South Africa, understanding the diverse traffic regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Canada versus the left in South Africa, as well as variations in speed limits and lane usage. Familiarizing yourself with these unique rules ensures a smoother, more secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Canada | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| 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
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
canada:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
south africa:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| 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, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Canada | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Canada | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Canada | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | 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 |
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
south africa:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
south africa:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | 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
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Canada | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
south africa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
canada:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Canada | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
canada:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Canada | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
south africa:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay