Driving Differences: Fiji vs. North Macedonia Explained
When exploring the roads of Fiji and North Macedonia, drivers encounter distinct rules and regulations that impact their travel experience. Key contrasts include driving on the left in Fiji versus the right in North Macedonia, as well as varying speed limits and lane usage. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
Fiji | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Driving Side | Left | Right |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
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 with road signs. |
Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
Driving Side
fiji:
Left
north macedonia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
north macedonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
fiji:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
fiji:
Yes
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
Speeds Limits
Fiji | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Urban Areas: Standard | 50 kph | 50 km/h |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 kph | 30 km/h |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 80 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 | 120 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 |
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
fiji:
50 kph
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
fiji:
30 kph
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
80 kph
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
fiji:
70 kph
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
60 kph
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
100 kph
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
fiji:
90 kph
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
80 kph
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Speed Units
fiji:
kph
north macedonia:
km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
Fiji | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Fiji | Prepare to go |
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
fiji:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
fiji:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
fiji:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
fiji:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
Fiji | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed | Allowed only where indicated by signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
fiji:
Not allowed.
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
Fiji | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory | Annual inspection required |
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
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
Fiji | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
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 |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
fiji:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
Fiji | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
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 | Conducted at checkpoints |
Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, potential loss of license | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
fiji:
0.08%
north macedonia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
fiji:
0.05%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
Fiji | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones | 192 |
Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Contact local service providers |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
fiji:
911
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
Fiji | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500 | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines can apply | 50 EUR |
Common Fines: Phone Use | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply | 40 EUR |
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply; obey signals | 250 EUR, points on license |
Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Yes, often required |
Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
north macedonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay