Driving in Monaco vs South Africa: Key Differences Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts between Monaco and South Africa's road regulations! From driving sides to speed limits, these nations showcase unique approaches to vehicle operation. While Monaco emphasizes meticulous lane usage, South Africa offers a more diverse range of traffic rules, highlighting the importance of understanding local practices for safe travel abroad.
Lanes
| Monaco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited, mostly on main roads | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Predominantly for buses. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled ‘BUS’. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with small vehicles or buses. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
Driving Side
monaco:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
monaco:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
south africa:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited
south africa:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
south africa:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
monaco:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Monaco | 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 | N/A | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | N/A | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | N/A | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common for traffic violations | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
monaco:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
monaco:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Monaco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Rare in Monaco, usually not used | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
south africa:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Monaco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted where indicated; check for signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
monaco:
Prohibited
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Monaco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually; proof may be required | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
south africa:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Monaco | 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
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Monaco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by severity | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Enforcement: Random Checks
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
monaco:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Monaco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
monaco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Monaco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 18 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Local police also available on 911 using GSM | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through service providers or insurance | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
monaco:
112 or 18
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
south africa:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Monaco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine applies if not used | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Substantial fines issued | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | High fines, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; varies | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be settled soon | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
monaco:
High fines, points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
monaco:
Possible; varies
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay