Driving Safety: Norway vs South Africa - Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Norway and South Africa, it's essential to understand the unique rules and practices that govern each country's transportation systems. From driving sides and speed limits to alcohol regulations and emergency protocols, the contrasts are striking. Familiarizing yourself with these variations ensures a safer journey abroad, allowing you to navigate confidently.
Lanes
| Norway | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not standard in Norway. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. | 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 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
norway:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
norway:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
south africa:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Norway | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 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 | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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
norway:
30-50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
norway:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
norway:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
90-110 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
norway:
90-100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
norway:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Norway | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Norway | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
norway:
Not used in Norway
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Norway | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
U- Turns Allowed
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Norway | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with a national driving 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | None | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
norway:
None
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Norway | 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
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Norway | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | High fines and possible license revocation | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: General Drivers
norway:
0.02%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
norway:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Norway | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
norway:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Norway | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 02800 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
norway:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
norway:
02800
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Norway | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 1500 NOK | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 1700 NOK | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, typically required | 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
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Alcohol
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
norway:
1500 NOK
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
norway:
1700 NOK
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay