Driving Differences: Kuwait vs South Africa Uncovered
Kuwait and South Africa exhibit distinct driving regulations and road practices that can significantly impact safety for travelers. Notably, Kuwait drives on the right while South Africa adopts the left. Variations in speed limits, lane markings, and emergency protocols further underscore the importance of understanding these contrasts to ensure a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Kuwait | 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 | Not commonly practiced. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kuwait:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kuwait:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
kuwait:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
kuwait:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kuwait:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kuwait:
No
south africa:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
N/A
south africa:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
N/A
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kuwait:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kuwait | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 45-60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 45 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kuwait:
45 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kuwait:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Kuwait | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kuwait:
Not used
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Kuwait | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless signs allow | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Kuwait | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kuwait:
Not mandatory
south africa:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kuwait | 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
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kuwait | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Significant fines and legal consequences | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: General Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kuwait:
Less common
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Enforcement: Imprisonment
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
south africa:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
kuwait:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Kuwait | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
kuwait:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Kuwait | 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 | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
kuwait:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
kuwait:
112
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south africa:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Kuwait | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may include points on license | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Very severe penalties for any alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Alcohol
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kuwait:
Fines applicable
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
kuwait:
Fines applicable
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
kuwait:
Yes, possible
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay