Driving Differences: South Africa vs Venezuela Explained
When exploring the roads of South Africa and Venezuela, it's essential to understand their distinct driving practices. Key differences include driving sides—left in South Africa versus right in Venezuela—and varied speed limits. Familiarizing yourself with these regulations will enhance your travel experience and promote safety on unfamiliar streets.
Lanes
| South africa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
Driving Side
south africa:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
venezuela:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
south africa:
Allowed
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
south africa:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
south africa:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
south africa:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
Speeds Limits
| South africa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-60 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common in South Africa | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
south africa:
40-60 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
south africa:
40 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
south africa:
100 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
south africa:
100 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
south africa:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
south africa:
120 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
south africa:
100-120 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
south africa:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| South africa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in South Africa | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with a red border | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| South africa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
south africa:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| South africa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not applicable | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
south africa:
Not applicable
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| South africa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| South africa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadblocks are used frequently | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies based on offense | 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%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
south africa:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
venezuela:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| South africa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
venezuela:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| South africa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 10111 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call general emergency number | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
south africa:
112 or 10111
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
south africa:
Call general emergency number
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| South africa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Common fine; mandatory use | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common with road checkpoints | Yes, sometimes possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay