Driving in North Macedonia vs. South Africa: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of North Macedonia and South Africa, distinct variations in traffic regulations and practices can significantly impact your journey. From driving sides and speed limits to lane usage and emergency protocols, understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. Join us as we explore the unique road rules of these two fascinating nations.
Lanes
| North macedonia | 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 typically allowed in North Macedonia. | 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 with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
north macedonia:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
north macedonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
north macedonia:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| North macedonia | 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 | 80 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: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
north macedonia:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
north macedonia:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
north macedonia:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
north macedonia:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
north macedonia:
70 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
north macedonia:
100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
north macedonia:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
north macedonia:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| North macedonia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepare to go | Not used in South Africa |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Prohibited in urban areas at night | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to signal other messages | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Macedonian; standard symbols | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
south africa:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
south africa:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Headlight Flash: Usage
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
south africa:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
south africa:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| North macedonia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless specified by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed when not prohibited by signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| North macedonia | 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 | 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 windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
north macedonia:
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
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
north macedonia:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| North macedonia | 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
north macedonia:
Common practice
south africa:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| North macedonia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted at checkpoints | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
north macedonia:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
north macedonia:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| North macedonia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
north macedonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| North macedonia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local service providers | 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
north macedonia:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
north macedonia:
192
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
north macedonia:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| North macedonia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 50 EUR | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 40 EUR | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 250 EUR, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
north macedonia:
50 EUR
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
north macedonia:
40 EUR
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay