Driving Differences: Luxembourg vs South Africa
When driving abroad, understanding the nuances between Luxembourg and South Africa is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include the driving direction—right in Luxembourg versus left in South Africa—as well as varying speed limits and road etiquette. Familiarize yourself with these contrasts to ensure a smooth and secure driving experience in either nation.
Lanes
| Luxembourg | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not typically used. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not typically used. | 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'; 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
luxembourg:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
luxembourg:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
luxembourg:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
luxembourg:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
luxembourg:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
luxembourg:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
luxembourg:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
luxembourg:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
luxembourg:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Luxembourg | 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 | 75 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 75 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | Yes | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
luxembourg:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
luxembourg:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
luxembourg:
90 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
luxembourg:
75 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
luxembourg:
75 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
luxembourg:
130 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
luxembourg:
90 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
luxembourg:
90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
luxembourg:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
luxembourg:
Electronic signs display current limits
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
luxembourg:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Luxembourg | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Luxembourg | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
luxembourg:
Not used in Luxembourg
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
luxembourg:
French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
luxembourg:
Triangular with red borders
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Luxembourg | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not typically allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
luxembourg:
Not typically allowed
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
luxembourg:
Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Luxembourg | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; must have a valid national license | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; regular intervals | 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
luxembourg:
Accepted; must have a valid national license
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
luxembourg:
International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
luxembourg:
Mandatory; regular intervals
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
luxembourg:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
luxembourg:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Luxembourg | 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
luxembourg:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Luxembourg | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: Underage Drivers
luxembourg:
0.00%; zero tolerance
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
luxembourg:
Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
luxembourg:
Can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
luxembourg:
Results in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Luxembourg | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
luxembourg:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Luxembourg | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or automobile club | 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
luxembourg:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
luxembourg:
113
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
luxembourg:
Contact your insurance provider or automobile club
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
luxembourg:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Luxembourg | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €145 | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €145 | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; severe penalties | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines often collected immediately | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually a specific period | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
luxembourg:
Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
luxembourg:
Up to €145
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
luxembourg:
Up to €145
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
luxembourg:
Varies; severe penalties
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
luxembourg:
Yes; fines often collected immediately
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
luxembourg:
Varies; usually a specific period
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay