Driving Differences: Serbia vs South Africa Explained
When exploring the roads of Serbia and South Africa, drivers encounter striking contrasts in regulations and practices. Serbia operates on the right side with specific speed limits, while South Africa adheres to left-side driving and variable limits. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in these diverse nations.
Lanes
| Serbia | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
serbia:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
serbia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
serbia:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
serbia:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
serbia:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Serbia | 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 |
| 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
serbia:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
serbia:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
serbia:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
70 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
serbia:
100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
serbia:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
serbia:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Serbia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Serbia | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Serbian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Serbia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by city; check for signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Serbia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required | 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Serbia | 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
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Serbia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police regularly perform checks | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by severity | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: General Drivers
serbia:
0.03%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
serbia:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
serbia:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Serbia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Serbia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 1987 | 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
serbia:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
serbia:
192
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
serbia:
1987
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Serbia | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40 | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €30 to €50 | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €50, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible for smaller fines | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 8 days to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Alcohol
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
serbia:
€20 to €40
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
serbia:
€30 to €50
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay