Fiji vs Philippines: Driving Differences You Need to Know
When navigating the roads of Fiji and the Philippines, understanding their unique traffic regulations is crucial for a secure journey. Notable differences include driving on the left in Fiji versus the right in the Philippines, varying speed limits, and distinct lane usage rules. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts will significantly enhance your travel experience.
Lanes
| Fiji | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| 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 PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
fiji:
Left
philippines:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
philippines:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
fiji:
No
philippines:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
fiji:
Yes
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
philippines:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
philippines:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
philippines:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
fiji:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Fiji | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 kph | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 kph | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 kph | 50 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 kph | 80 kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
fiji:
50 kph
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
fiji:
30 kph
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
60 kph
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
fiji:
90 kph
philippines:
80 kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Fiji | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Fiji | Not used |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
philippines:
Not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
philippines:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
fiji:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Fiji | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed only where indicated by signs | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
fiji:
Not allowed.
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Fiji | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Insurance
fiji:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
fiji:
Displayed on the windshield
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Fiji | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| 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
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Fiji | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, potential loss of license | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: General Drivers
fiji:
0.08%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Emergency Services
| Fiji | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
philippines:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Fiji | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500 | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines can apply | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply; obey signals | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Alcohol
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
philippines:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance