Johannesburg Travelling Tips

Travelling by car in South Africa is a wonderful experience and if you follow our handy Johannesburg travelling tips it will ensure a safe and pleasurable experience. Generally, roads are well demarcated, and sign posts easy to see and read so finding your way shouldn't be too much of a problem. Below is a list of Johannesburg Travelling Tips that we are sure will ensure you have a safe journey while in South Africa.

Travelling by road requires you to stay on the left hand side, and the wearing of seat belts, both in the front and back of a vehicle, is compulsory. Speed varies from 80- 120 kilometres per hour on non-residential roads, and 60 is the norm in suburbs, unless otherwise stated.

Slower cars stay in the left hand side lane, with faster cars overtaking on the right. Traffic lights (locally known as “robots”), stop streets and circles form part of the road network, and yielding to the right at a circle is the norm, although there are a few exceptions, which are well sign posted. 

When stopping at a traffic light, you need to ascertain that the car behind you is also slowing down - light jumping is an unfortunate common practice in South Africa, with cars speeding up when they see an amber light, rather than slowing down, so take care!

When pulling off from traffic lights, (assuming you are first in line, of course) give a surreptitious look at the opposite sides of traffic, Speed signs are prolific, and if the road does not have a mounted speed camera, there normally is a hand held camera hidden in a bush along the road somewhere, so take care not to go over the limit, because the speeding fines are quite heavy!

The roads are in good condition, and unless you choose to go off the beaten track, the roads are all tarred. There are 24 hour petrol stations open on the freeways, as well as in the suburbs. Always look for a well lit, user friendly petrol station. Cash is the only form of payment accepted at petrol stations, and most of them have ATM’s on their premises, if you require more.

The different fuels for sale in South Africa are ULP (Unleaded petrol), LRP (Lead replacement petrol), and diesel. Please ensure that you know beforehand what type of fuel your vehicle requires when hiring a car. The use of a mobile phone is prohibited whilst driving.

Being aware of your surroundings and the people in it at all times is recommended, because South Africa is a cosmopolitan country, with a few opportunists hanging around, so its best not to stop or park if you see any shady characters.

Driving with your valuables stored out of sight is a good idea, and when you leave your parked car, also ensure that there isn’t anything of value left in sight. Most restaurants and places of interest have secure parking, normally with a car park attendant on the premises.

Try not to stop in deserted places, and use the air-con in the car, rather than driving with your windows all the way down. In every city, you will come across “mini taxis”- these are depressingly badly driven, badly maintained, and act as if they are a law unto themselves. The traffic department and government have a major clamp down at the moment, trying to get rid of unlicensed drivers and vehicles.

If you drive with caution, as with any unknown destination, and follow the above suggestions, you will discover a vast and diverse beautiful country, ready to welcome you with open arms.

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