Driving Differences: South Africa vs. Switzerland Safety Tips
When comparing the road regulations of South Africa and Switzerland, significant contrasts emerge that impact traveler safety. From driving on opposite sides of the road to varied speed limits and traffic protocols, understanding these distinctions is essential for a secure journey. Discover how these two countries approach transportation and what you need to know before hitting the road.
Lanes
| South africa | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on roads. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless turning. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
south africa:
Left
switzerland:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Left
south africa:
Allowed
switzerland:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
south africa:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south africa:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| South africa | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common in South Africa | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
south africa:
40-60 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
south africa:
40 km/h
switzerland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
south africa:
100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
south africa:
100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
south africa:
80-100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
south africa:
100-120 km/h
switzerland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
south africa:
80-100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
south africa:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south africa:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| South africa | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in South Africa | Prepare to go |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with a red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| South africa | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
south africa:
Not allowed
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| South africa | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not applicable | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
south africa:
Not applicable
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Road Etiquette
| South africa | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| South africa | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadblocks are used frequently | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies based on offense | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and additional fines | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
south africa:
0.02%
switzerland:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| South africa | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
south africa:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Signaling: Exiting
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
switzerland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
south africa:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| South africa | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 10111 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call general emergency number | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) | 140 |
Contact: General Emergency
south africa:
112 or 10111
switzerland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
south africa:
Call general emergency number
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
switzerland:
140
Penalties And Fines
| South africa | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Common fine; mandatory use | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance | CHF 100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common with road checkpoints | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
south africa:
Fines applicable
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay