Driving Differences: Croatia vs South Africa Explained
When navigating the roads of Croatia and South Africa, understanding the distinct driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. From contrasting speed limits and lane usage to unique signaling protocols, this comparison highlights essential variations that every traveler should be aware of. Discover how these differences can impact your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Croatia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | 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 |
Driving Side
croatia:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
croatia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
croatia:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
croatia:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
croatia:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
croatia:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Croatia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in South Africa |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Croatian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
south africa:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Croatia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Croatia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | 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
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | 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
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Croatia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
croatia:
Can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
croatia:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Croatia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
croatia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Croatia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | 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
croatia:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay