Navigating the roads in South Africa demands a thorough understanding of the various rules and regulations. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, South African roads can be rather treacherous.
Grasping the nuances of South African driving etiquette will help you get around the cities and national roads smoothly, and without any trouble… just remember to always keep an eye out for those bothersome taxi drivers!
This article will take you through everything you need to know about South African roads and driving regulations. We’ll also introduce you to We Rent Cars, a rent-to-buy car subscription service that’ll help get you behind the wheel in no time!
Let’s jump into it.
Who Can Drive in South Africa?
There are a few requirements to be able to be a legal driver in South Africa:
- You must be over the age of 18.
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You must have a valid driver’s licence
For international residents and visiting tourists, a valid foreign licence will suffice. If the licence isn’t English then Internationals will need to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) along with the foreign licence.
South African Driving Licences
South African learners and driving licences are issued by the South African Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). Before obtaining one of these licences, residents over the age of 18 will have to complete their test at one of the national Driving License Test Centres.
A South African driving licence is used to prove that you’re legally entitled to drive on South African roads. These licences also double as an identification document in the country as it contains a photo of the driver along with their full name, surname, and identification number.
How Driving in South Africa Works
Now, let’s get into the essential rules and regulations of driving on South African roads. After reading the section below you’ll know the most important information about driving safely in the Rainbow Nation.
Here are a few essential points to note:
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Cars in South Africa are right-hand drives, meaning that the steering wheel is on the right hand side of the vehicle.
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We drive on the left-hand side of the roads.
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Speed is measured in kilometres per hour as opposed to miles per hour.
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Wearing a helmet while on a motorbike in South Africa is a compulsory rule - driving without one will result in a fine.
Who has Right of Way When Driving?
In South Africa, when turning right at a traffic light or yield sign, oncoming traffic always has right of way. This applies to roundabouts and circles as well - so when yielding at a circle, drivers will need to yield to their right.
How Do Traffic Lights Work in South Africa?
Traffic lights, or robots as we call them, are relatively easy to understand in South Africa. In general, they operate no differently to other traffic lights around the world:
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Green: Green indicates that you are allowed to drive and turn either left or right. A green arrow means that drivers turning right may turn without having to yield to oncoming traffic.
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Orange/Amber: Orange or amber lights indicate that you need to slow down and potentially come to a complete stop. These lights indicate that a red light is about to come on.
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Red: A red light indicates that you need to stop/not cross the intersection.
Road Rules to Remember
Here are a few road rules to remember when driving in South Africa:
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Always stick to the various speed limits on different roads in the country. There are speed cameras set up all around our roads and breaking the speed limit can result in pricey fines. The speed limit on most residential areas is around 60 km/ph, secondary roads are 100 km/ph, and national highways are 120 km/ph/.
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Always keep your drivers licence on you when on the road.
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No mobile phones/other handheld devices are permitted for use while driving.
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Drinking and driving in any form is prohibited.
Road Signs in South Africa
Lastly, before hitting the South African roads, it’s important to know a few of our most common road signs.
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Speed signs: In South Africa, speed limits are indicated in kilometres via road signs set up around the country. These are displayed via red, circular signs.
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Colours: White backgrounds on road signs indicate that the speed limits or rules are permanent while yellow backgrounds indicate a temporary rule. Signs with yellow backgrounds are common when roadworks or stop-and-go’s are set up.
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Warning signs: These are commonly displayed via upward pointing triangular signage. The pictogram within these signs are usually black and they depict various obstructions and dangers.
Get on the Road Today with We Rent Cars
So, you now know all of the essentials about driving in South Africa… Now it’s time to get you some wheels. We Rent Cars is striving to transform car ownership in South Africa. We want to make driving accessible and easy for all licensed citizens in the country.
Our rent-to-buy subscription will get you on the road in no time, and comes with a host of great benefits including:
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A tracking device
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Yearly licence renewal
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24h roadside assistance
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Comprehensive insurance
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Minor services every 10 000 km for 54 months
Contact us today and start driving tomorrow!