Driving in Georgia vs. South Africa: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Georgia and South Africa, understanding the unique driving practices is essential for a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Georgia versus the left in South Africa, and variations in speed limits and road markings. This comparison highlights vital safety insights to enhance your travel experience.
Lanes
| Georgia | 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
georgia:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
georgia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
georgia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
georgia:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
georgia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
georgia:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
georgia:
Yes
south africa:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
georgia:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Georgia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 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
georgia:
30-50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
georgia:
20-40 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
georgia:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
110-120 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
georgia:
100-110 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
90-100 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
georgia:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
georgia:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Georgia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Georgian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
georgia:
Not used
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
georgia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Georgia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Georgia | 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; proof may be required | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
georgia:
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
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
georgia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
georgia:
Recommended
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Georgia | 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
georgia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Georgia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | 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
georgia:
0.03%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
georgia:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
georgia:
Varies; can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
georgia:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Georgia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
georgia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Georgia | 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 or local services | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
georgia:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
georgia:
112
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
georgia:
Recommended
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Georgia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 50 GEL | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 10 GEL | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 200 GEL | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; but usually paid later | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
georgia:
50 GEL
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
georgia:
10 GEL
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
georgia:
200 GEL
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay