Driving Differences: Denmark vs. South Africa
As you prepare to explore the roads of Denmark and South Africa, understanding their distinct motoring regulations is crucial for your journey. Key contrasts include driving on opposite sides and varying speed limits, emphasizing the importance of local awareness for a safe and enjoyable experience. Discover the nuances to navigate these diverse landscapes confidently.
Lanes
| Denmark | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used temporarily in construction zones. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
denmark:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
denmark:
Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
denmark:
Used temporarily in construction zones.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
denmark:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
denmark:
Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
denmark:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
denmark:
Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
denmark:
Not applicable
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
denmark:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Denmark | 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 | 80 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 | 110-130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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, for minor offenses. | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
denmark:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
denmark:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
denmark:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
denmark:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
110-130 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
denmark:
90-100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
denmark:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
denmark:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
denmark:
Yes, for minor offenses.
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Denmark | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green. | Not used in South Africa |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Danish; 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
denmark:
Used before green.
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
denmark:
Signal when entering and exiting
south africa:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
denmark:
Danish; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
denmark:
Triangular with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Denmark | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians. | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign. | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Left Turn: General
denmark:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
south africa:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
denmark:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Denmark | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
denmark:
Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
denmark:
International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
denmark:
Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
denmark:
Displayed on the windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Denmark | 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
denmark:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Denmark | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; carried out by the police | 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: Underage Drivers
denmark:
0.00%; zero tolerance
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
denmark:
Common; carried out by the police
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
denmark:
Can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
denmark:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Denmark | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if taking any exit other than first | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
denmark:
Signal left if taking any exit other than first
south africa:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
denmark:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Denmark | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact general emergency to report traffic issues | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurer or patrol services | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
denmark:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
denmark:
Contact general emergency to report traffic issues
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
denmark:
Contact your insurer or patrol services
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended but not mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Denmark | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free required | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and possible license points | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 days | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
denmark:
Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Alcohol
denmark:
Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
denmark:
Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
denmark:
Fines apply, use of hands-free required
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
denmark:
Significant fines and possible license points
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
denmark:
Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
denmark:
Varies; typically within 14 days
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay