Driving in Israel vs. Vanuatu: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique nuances of driving in Israel and Vanuatu, two distinct nations with contrasting regulations and practices. While Israel boasts designated bus and cycle lanes alongside electronic speed limits, Vanuatu offers a more relaxed approach with no such features. Understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Israel | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
israel:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
israel:
50 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
israel:
80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
israel:
Yes
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
israel:
Yes
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Israel | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in Vanuatu |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
vanuatu:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
vanuatu:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Israel | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Israel | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Insurance
israel:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
israel:
Displayed on windshield
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
vanuatu:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull to the side and stop, if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
vanuatu:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
vanuatu:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
israel:
Can result in license suspension
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Emergency Services
| Israel | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
vanuatu:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | Fines apply for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Possible; or through police stations |
Common Fines: Speeding
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
vanuatu:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations