Driving in Estonia vs South Africa: Key Differences Revealed
When journeying abroad, understanding the nuances of vehicle operation is crucial for ensuring safety. This comparison between Estonia and South Africa reveals significant contrasts, such as driving on opposite sides of the road and differing speed limits. Gaining insight into these distinctions can enhance your travel experience and foster responsible navigation in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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 | Allowed 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. | 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
estonia:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
estonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
estonia:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | 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 | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 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 | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Estonia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
south africa:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Estonia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Estonia | 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 every year; proof must be carried | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
estonia:
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
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | 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
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; 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
estonia:
0.02%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
estonia:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Estonia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
estonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Estonia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 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
estonia:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay