Driving in South Africa vs. Tunisia: Key Differences
Discover the contrasting aspects of roadway rules and practices between South Africa and Tunisia. From the driving side—left in South Africa versus right in Tunisia—to speed limits and traffic signals, these variations significantly impact motorist safety and compliance. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for a secure driving experience in either nation.
Lanes
| South africa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on roads. | Marks the left 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 | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless turning. | Not typically permitted. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
south africa:
Left
tunisia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
tunisia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
south africa:
Allowed
tunisia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
south africa:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
south africa:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
south africa:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| South africa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common in South Africa | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
south africa:
40-60 km/h
tunisia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
south africa:
40 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
south africa:
100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
south africa:
100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
south africa:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
south africa:
120 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
south africa:
100-120 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
south africa:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| South africa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in South Africa | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| 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
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| South africa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
south africa:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| South africa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not applicable | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
south africa:
Not applicable
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south africa:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| South africa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
south africa:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| South africa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadblocks are used frequently | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies based on offense | Substantial; varies by offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and additional fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
south africa:
0.02%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
south africa:
0.00%
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Test Refusal
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
tunisia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| South africa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
tunisia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| South africa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 10111 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call general emergency number | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
south africa:
112 or 10111
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
south africa:
Call general emergency number
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south africa:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| South africa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Common fine; mandatory use | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common with road checkpoints | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
south africa:
Fines applicable
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay