Driving in South Korea vs. Vanuatu: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of South Korea and Vanuatu, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experience. From lane markings and speed limits to unique signaling systems, understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring safe and responsible motoring abroad. Explore the key variances to drive confidently in each locale.
Lanes
| South korea | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during specified hours. | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
vanuatu:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
south korea:
Exclusive for bicycles.
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south korea:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| South korea | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
south korea:
60 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
south korea:
80-100 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
south korea:
80-100 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
south korea:
60-80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
south korea:
100-120 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
south korea:
100-110 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
south korea:
80-100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south korea:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
south korea:
Yes
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
south korea:
Yes
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| South korea | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in South Korea | Not used in Vanuatu |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Korean; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Traffic Signs: Language
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
vanuatu:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| South korea | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| South korea | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof must be displayed | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
vanuatu:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
vanuatu:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
south korea:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south korea:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| South korea | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull to the side and stop, if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| South korea | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: Professional Drivers
south korea:
0.03%
vanuatu:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Emergency Services
| South korea | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; often part of the general emergency network | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south korea:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| South korea | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines and license points given | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines and license points given | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and license points given | Fines apply for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and license points given | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; or through police stations |
Common Fines: Speeding
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
south korea:
Fines and license points given
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
south korea:
Fines and license points given
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
south korea:
Fines and license points given
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
south korea:
Yes
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations