Driving in the Philippines vs. South Africa: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of the Philippines and South Africa, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. From varying speed limits to different lane usage rules, understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring safety and compliance. Discover the essential driving distinctions between these two vibrant nations to navigate confidently.
Lanes
| Philippines | 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 | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
Driving Side
philippines:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
philippines:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
philippines:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
south africa:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
philippines:
Yes
south africa:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Philippines | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 kph | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 kph | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 kph | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 kph | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 80-100 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Less common; fines are usually issued later | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
philippines:
40 kph
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
philippines:
20 kph
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
80 kph
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
philippines:
70 kph
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
50 kph
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
100 kph
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
philippines:
80 kph
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
80 kph
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Speed Units
philippines:
kph
south africa:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Philippines | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Filipino; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
philippines:
Not used
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Philippines | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Philippines | 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 | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
philippines:
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
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
south africa:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Philippines | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Philippines | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
south africa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
philippines:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Philippines | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
philippines:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Philippines | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AAA | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
Contact: General Emergency
philippines:
911
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
philippines:
117
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Penalties And Fines
| Philippines | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | PHP 300 | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | PHP 1000 | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
philippines:
PHP 300
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
philippines:
PHP 1000
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay