Driving in Fiji vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Fiji and Saudi Arabia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their journeys. Key contrasts include driving on opposite sides—left in Fiji and right in Saudi Arabia—as well as varied speed limits and unique overtaking rules. Understanding these nuances is essential for a secure and enjoyable experience abroad.
Lanes
| Fiji | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
fiji:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
saudi arabia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
fiji:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
fiji:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
fiji:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Fiji | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 kph | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 kph | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 kph | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 kph | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 100 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
fiji:
50 kph
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
fiji:
30 kph
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
80 kph
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
fiji:
70 kph
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
60 kph
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
100 kph
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
fiji:
90 kph
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
80 kph
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Speed Units
fiji:
kph
saudi arabia:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Fiji | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Fiji | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
saudi arabia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Turns
| Fiji | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed only where indicated by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
fiji:
Not allowed.
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Fiji | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
fiji:
Displayed on the windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Fiji | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Fiji | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, potential loss of license | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
fiji:
0.08%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
fiji:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
fiji:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
fiji:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Fiji | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
fiji:
911
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Fiji | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500 | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines can apply | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply; obey signals | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay