Driving Differences: Germany vs South Africa Explained
When exploring the roadways of Germany and South Africa, drivers encounter unique regulations and practices that shape their travel experiences. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and road signs, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a safe journey. Discover how these two countries differ in their approach to vehicular navigation and road etiquette.
Lanes
| Germany | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
germany:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
germany:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
germany:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
germany:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Germany | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 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 | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
germany:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
germany:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
germany:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
germany:
100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
germany:
Common
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Germany | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to change to green | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Germany | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Germany | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Germany | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Germany | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
germany:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
germany:
Common
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
germany:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Germany | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
germany:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Germany | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
germany:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
germany:
110
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €30 to €60 | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
germany:
Common
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay