Driving in Chile vs. South Africa: Key Safety Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads of Chile and South Africa, understanding the distinct regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. From varying speed limits to different rules on overtaking and emergency protocols, these nations showcase unique driving customs that every traveler should be aware of before hitting the road.
Lanes
| Chile | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
chile:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
chile:
Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
chile:
Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
chile:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
chile:
Prohibited unless on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
chile:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
chile:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
chile:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
chile:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Chile | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
chile:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
100 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
chile:
100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
chile:
Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Chile | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Chile | Not used in South Africa |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
chile:
Not used in Chile
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
chile:
Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools
south africa:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
chile:
Spanish; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
chile:
Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Chile | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
chile:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
chile:
Varies by locality; check for signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Chile | 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
chile:
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
chile:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
chile:
Required annually
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
chile:
Displayed on windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
chile:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Chile | 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
chile:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Chile | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties, including suspension of license | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: General Drivers
chile:
0.03%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
chile:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
chile:
0.00%; zero tolerance
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
chile:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
chile:
Substantial penalties, including suspension of license
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
chile:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Chile | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
chile:
Signal if turning upon entry
south africa:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
chile:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Chile | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 133 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 or 139 on mobile phones | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services | 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
chile:
133
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
chile:
133 or 139 on mobile phones
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
chile:
Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
chile:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Chile | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free technology | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, includes license suspension | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically short timeframe to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
chile:
Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Alcohol
chile:
Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
chile:
Fines apply for non-use
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
chile:
Fines for use without hands-free technology
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
chile:
Significant fines, includes license suspension
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
chile:
Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
chile:
Varies; typically short timeframe to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay