Driving in Fiji vs. Italy: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Fiji and Italy, drivers must navigate distinct traffic norms and regulations. Key contrasts include driving on the left in Fiji versus the right in Italy, as well as varying speed limits and road markings. Understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a secure and smooth journey in both nations.
Lanes
| Fiji | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
fiji:
Left
italy:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
Overtaking: On Left
fiji:
No
italy:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
fiji:
Yes
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
italy:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
italy:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
italy:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
fiji:
N/A
italy:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
fiji:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Fiji | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 kph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 kph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 kph | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 kph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
fiji:
50 kph
italy:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
fiji:
30 kph
italy:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
80 kph
italy:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
fiji:
70 kph
italy:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
60 kph
italy:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
100 kph
italy:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
fiji:
90 kph
italy:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
80 kph
italy:
80 km/h
Speed Units
fiji:
kph
italy:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
fiji:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Fiji | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Fiji | Used; prepare to go when green appears |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Italian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
italy:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
fiji:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Fiji | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed only where indicated by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
fiji:
Not allowed.
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Fiji | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
fiji:
Displayed on the windshield
italy:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Fiji | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Fiji | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, potential loss of license | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
fiji:
0.08%
italy:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
fiji:
0.05%
italy:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
italy:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
italy:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Fiji | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones | 113 (State Police) |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | 116 (ACI) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
fiji:
911
italy:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
italy:
113 (State Police)
Contact: Roadside Assistance
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
italy:
116 (ACI)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Fiji | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500 | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines can apply | Varies; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply | Fines apply, strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply; obey signals | Fines apply, may include points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Possible, especially for foreign drivers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
italy:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
italy:
Varies; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
Payment: On The Spot
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
Payment: Deadline
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days