Driving in Honduras vs. South Africa: Key Safety Tips
When exploring the roads of Honduras and South Africa, understanding their distinct traffic regulations is vital for a secure journey. Notable contrasts include driving sides—right in Honduras and left in South Africa—and varying speed limits across urban and rural settings. Equip yourself with this crucial knowledge to navigate these countries safely and confidently.
Lanes
| Honduras | 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: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved primarily for public transportation vehicles. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or through signage. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | In areas with dedicated bike paths. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are typically static. | N/A |
Driving Side
honduras:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
honduras:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
honduras:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
honduras:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
honduras:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
honduras:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
honduras:
Limited
south africa:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
honduras:
Reserved primarily for public transportation vehicles.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
honduras:
Labeled 'BUS' or through signage.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
honduras:
Limited
south africa:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
honduras:
In areas with dedicated bike paths.
south africa:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
honduras:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
honduras:
Not applicable
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
honduras:
Speed limits are typically static.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Honduras | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are typically static. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Infrequent | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Sometimes issued if stopped by police | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
honduras:
30-40 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
honduras:
25 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
honduras:
60-80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
honduras:
60-80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
honduras:
60-80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
honduras:
80-110 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
honduras:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
honduras:
Speed limits are typically static.
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
honduras:
Infrequent
south africa:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
honduras:
Sometimes issued if stopped by police
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Honduras | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Honduras | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
honduras:
Not used in Honduras
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
honduras:
Spanish; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
honduras:
Triangular-shaped with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Honduras | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
honduras:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
honduras:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Honduras | 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 annually | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
honduras:
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
honduras:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
honduras:
Required annually
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
honduras:
Displayed on windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
honduras:
Recommended
south africa:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
honduras:
Recommended
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Honduras | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Varies; more frequent in urban areas | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
honduras:
Varies; more frequent in urban areas
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
honduras:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Honduras | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted; checkpoints common | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe penalties apply | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in fines and license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: General Drivers
honduras:
0.07%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
honduras:
0.00%; zero tolerance
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
honduras:
Conducted; checkpoints common
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
honduras:
Severe penalties apply
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
honduras:
Can result in fines and license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Honduras | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
honduras:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Honduras | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 or 199 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact via general emergency numbers | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
honduras:
911 or 199
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
honduras:
Contact via general emergency numbers
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
honduras:
Check with your insurance provider
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
honduras:
Recommended
south africa:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
honduras:
Recommended
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Honduras | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties apply including possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines apply for non-compliance | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use while driving | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines and points | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes possible, depending on the violation | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
honduras:
Varies; can be substantial
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Alcohol
honduras:
Severe penalties apply including possible imprisonment
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
honduras:
Mandatory, fines apply for non-compliance
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
honduras:
Fines for use while driving
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
honduras:
Substantial fines and points
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
honduras:
Sometimes possible, depending on the violation
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
honduras:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay