Driving Differences: South Africa vs Trinidad and Tobago

When navigating the roads of South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that ensure safety on their journeys. Key variations include speed limits, lane markings, and overtaking rules, highlighting the importance of understanding local traffic norms for a secure driving experience abroad.

south africatrinidad and tobago

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in south-africa is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in south-africa is 28

1.179 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for south-africa is 1.179 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	South africa	Trinidad and tobago
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the right edge on roads.	Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left	Allowed	No
Overtaking: On Right	Prohibited unless turning.	Yes, when safe and permitted.
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.	Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings	May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.	Marked with signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Yes	Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Exclusive for bicycles.	Primarily for bicycles; be cautious of motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

south africa:

Marks the right edge on roads.

trinidad and tobago:

Marks the right edge on divided roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

south africa:

Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.

trinidad and tobago:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

Overtaking: On Left

south africa:

Allowed

trinidad and tobago:

Overtaking: On Right

south africa:

Prohibited unless turning.

trinidad and tobago:

Yes, when safe and permitted.

Bus Lanes: Usage

south africa:

Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.

trinidad and tobago:

Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.

Bus Lanes: Markings

south africa:

May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.

trinidad and tobago:

Marked with signs.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

south africa:

Yes

trinidad and tobago:

Limited

Cycle Lanes: Usage

south africa:

Exclusive for bicycles.

trinidad and tobago:

Primarily for bicycles; be cautious of motor vehicles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

south africa:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

trinidad and tobago:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	South africa	Trinidad and tobago
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	65 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	120 km/h	100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	100-120 km/h	100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 km/h	80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes, common in South Africa	Common, officers may issue fines directly

Urban Areas: Standard

south africa:

40-60 km/h

trinidad and tobago:

30-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

south africa:

40 km/h

trinidad and tobago:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

south africa:

100 km/h

trinidad and tobago:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

south africa:

100 km/h

trinidad and tobago:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

south africa:

80-100 km/h

trinidad and tobago:

65 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

south africa:

120 km/h

trinidad and tobago:

100 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

south africa:

100-120 km/h

trinidad and tobago:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

south africa:

80-100 km/h

trinidad and tobago:

80 km/h

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

south africa:

Yes, common in South Africa

trinidad and tobago:

Common, officers may issue fines directly

Signals

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	South africa	Trinidad and tobago
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in South Africa	Not used in Trinidad and Tobago
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Unnecessary use discouraged
Headlight Flash: Usage	To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking	To warn other drivers of your presence
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular shape with a red border	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

south africa:

Not used in South Africa

trinidad and tobago:

Not used in Trinidad and Tobago

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

south africa:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

trinidad and tobago:

Unnecessary use discouraged

Headlight Flash: Usage

south africa:

To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking

trinidad and tobago:

To warn other drivers of your presence

Traffic Signs: Warning

south africa:

Triangular shape with a red border

trinidad and tobago:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	South africa		Trinidad and tobago
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed at designated places; check for signs.		Not typically allowed in urban areas; check for signs

U- Turns Allowed

south africa:

Allowed at designated places; check for signs.

trinidad and tobago:

Not typically allowed in urban areas; check for signs

Documentation

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	South africa	Trinidad and tobago
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance	Liability insurance mandatory	Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle	Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Not applicable	Displayed on vehicle

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

south africa:

Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended

trinidad and tobago:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

south africa:

Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended

trinidad and tobago:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Insurance

south africa:

Liability insurance mandatory

trinidad and tobago:

Third-party insurance mandatory

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

south africa:

Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle

trinidad and tobago:

Annual inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

south africa:

Not applicable

trinidad and tobago:

Displayed on vehicle

Road Etiquette

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	South africa		Trinidad and tobago
Flashing Lights: Usage	To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake		To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Less frequent use compared to some countries		Frequent use to communicate in traffic

Flashing Lights: Usage

south africa:

To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake

trinidad and tobago:

To warn of hazards

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

south africa:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

trinidad and tobago:

Frequent use to communicate in traffic

Alcohol

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	South africa	Trinidad and tobago
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; roadblocks are used frequently	Common
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial; varies based on offense	Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and additional fines	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

south africa:

0.05%

trinidad and tobago:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

south africa:

0.02%

trinidad and tobago:

0.05%

Limits: Underage Drivers

south africa:

0.00%

trinidad and tobago:

0.00%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

south africa:

Common; roadblocks are used frequently

trinidad and tobago:

Common

Enforcement: Fines

south africa:

Substantial; varies based on offense

trinidad and tobago:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

south africa:

Can result in license suspension and additional fines

trinidad and tobago:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

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	South africa		Trinidad and tobago
Signaling: Exiting	Signal left when preparing to exit		Signal right when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

south africa:

Signal left when preparing to exit

trinidad and tobago:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	South africa	Trinidad and tobago
Contact: General Emergency	112 or 10111	999 or 911
Contact: Traffic Police	Call general emergency number	999 or use local police numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)	Contact your insurance provider or the Automobile Association

Contact: General Emergency

south africa:

112 or 10111

trinidad and tobago:

999 or 911

Contact: Traffic Police

south africa:

Call general emergency number

trinidad and tobago:

999 or use local police numbers

Contact: Roadside Assistance

south africa:

Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)

trinidad and tobago:

Contact your insurance provider or the Automobile Association

Penalties And Fines

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	South africa	Trinidad and tobago
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed	Varies; TT$ 500 and up, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Common fine; mandatory use	TT$ 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance	TT$ 1,500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines applicable	TT$ 2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Yes, common with road checkpoints	Rare; fines usually paid in person or by mail
Payment: Deadline	Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay	Varies; typically within 15-30 days

Common Fines: Speeding

south africa:

Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed

trinidad and tobago:

Varies; TT$ 500 and up, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

south africa:

Common fine; mandatory use

trinidad and tobago:

TT$ 1,000

Common Fines: Phone Use

south africa:

Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance

trinidad and tobago:

TT$ 1,500

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

south africa:

Fines applicable

trinidad and tobago:

TT$ 2,000, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

south africa:

Yes, common with road checkpoints

trinidad and tobago:

Rare; fines usually paid in person or by mail

Payment: Deadline

south africa:

Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay

trinidad and tobago:

Varies; typically within 15-30 days