Driving Differences: Italy vs. South Africa Explained
Embarking on a journey through Italy or South Africa? Understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure experience. Key distinctions include driving sides—right in Italy and left in South Africa—along with varied speed limits and traffic protocols. Familiarize yourself with these essential variations to navigate confidently and safely abroad.
Lanes
| Italy | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
italy:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
italy:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
italy:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
italy:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
italy:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
italy:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Italy | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Italy | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Italy | 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 with International Driving Permit | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
italy:
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
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Italy | 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
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Italy | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
italy:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
italy:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Italy | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
italy:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Italy | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | 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
italy:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay