Driving in Lithuania vs South Africa: Key Safety Tips
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and vehicle operation between Lithuania and South Africa. Notably, while Lithuania drives on the right side of the road, South Africa adheres to the left. From speed limits to lane usage, understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring a secure driving experience when traveling abroad.
Lanes
| Lithuania | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Separation of opposing traffic directions. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Passing permitted with caution. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
lithuania:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
lithuania:
Separation of opposing traffic directions.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
lithuania:
Passing permitted with caution.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
lithuania:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
lithuania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
lithuania:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
lithuania:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
lithuania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
lithuania:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
lithuania:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Lithuania | 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 | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, issued by police. | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
lithuania:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
lithuania:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
lithuania:
90 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
lithuania:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
lithuania:
70 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
lithuania:
130 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
lithuania:
100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
lithuania:
90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
lithuania:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
lithuania:
Yes, issued by police.
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Lithuania | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates prepared to start | Not used in South Africa |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Lithuanian; 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
lithuania:
Indicates prepared to start
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
lithuania:
Unnecessary use discouraged
south africa:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
lithuania:
Lithuanian; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
lithuania:
Triangle-shaped with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Lithuania | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Lithuania | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual check | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
lithuania:
Mandatory annual check
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
lithuania:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lithuania:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Lithuania | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
lithuania:
Common practice
south africa:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
lithuania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Lithuania | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, particularly at night and weekends | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies based on BAC level | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Results in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: General Drivers
lithuania:
0.04%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
lithuania:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
lithuania:
Common, particularly at night and weekends
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
lithuania:
Substantial; varies based on BAC level
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Enforcement: Imprisonment
lithuania:
Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
south africa:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
lithuania:
Results in penalties and license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Lithuania | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
lithuania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Lithuania | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | 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
lithuania:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
lithuania:
112
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
lithuania:
Contact your insurance provider
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lithuania:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Lithuania | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines apply | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free device required | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, by police | 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
lithuania:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Alcohol
lithuania:
High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
lithuania:
Mandatory, fines apply
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
lithuania:
Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
lithuania:
Fines apply
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
lithuania:
Yes, by police
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
lithuania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay