Driving Differences: Saudi Arabia vs. South Africa
When navigating the roads of Saudi Arabia and South Africa, understanding their unique driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and differing protocols for emergency vehicles. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts can significantly enhance your safety and confidence while exploring these diverse nations.
Lanes
| Saudi arabia | 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 | 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
saudi arabia:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
saudi arabia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
saudi arabia:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
No
south africa:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
No
south africa:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
south africa:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
Yes
south africa:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Saudi arabia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120-140 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Saudi arabia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Saudi Arabia | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Saudi arabia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
U- Turns Allowed
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Saudi arabia | 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspection required | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
saudi arabia:
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
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Saudi arabia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use for communication on the road | 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Saudi arabia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, random checkpoints are used | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; possible imprisonment | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Frequent for offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: General Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Enforcement: Imprisonment
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
south africa:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Saudi arabia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
saudi arabia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Saudi arabia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 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
saudi arabia:
999
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
saudi arabia:
993
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Saudi arabia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer | 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
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Alcohol
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay