Welcome to South Africa's complex roadway landscape. HRETD's "Expat RSA Roads Orientation" course is designed to provide foreign nationals with a comprehensive introduction to navigating local roads. From understanding road signs to grasping regional driving etiquettes, the course is enriched with multimedia aids like progress quizzes, illustrations, and instructional videos.

Acclimating to a new country's road systems can be a daunting task. Our course aims to mitigate this by offering real-world scenarios, safety tips, and best practices that are specific to South Africa. Learn how to handle common challenges such as intersections, roundabouts, and local traffic patterns, allowing you to drive with confidence and safety.

Ideal for expatriates and companies employing international staff, this course ensures that you're not just road-legal, but road-wise.

Entry requirements

A currently valid recognised foreign national driver’s license (or international driver's license) with the appropriate code for the class of vehicle being used for practical coaching and exercises.

Advanced driver training

Expat RSA roads orientation training

Defensive driving

Course content

Theory presentation

In order to forge an immediate connection to their new environment, a brief yet rich discussion of the South African driving heritage will ensue, painting a vivid tapestry of a nation with a vibrant blend of cultures and distinctive driving practices. It is here that expats are sensitized to the prominent shift they will have to internalize — moving from a right-hand driving system to a left-hand orientation, a transition that can be disorienting but is pivotal to driving in South Africa.

The heart of the morning is committed to demystifying the intricacies of South African road rules that safeguard road users. It covers topics including the application of kilometre/hour speed limits calibrated to varying zones - urban or rural. This segment takes them through roundabouts, yielding, overtaking and other norms that make up the cardinal rules of South African road culture, introducing them to the dynamic, sometimes unspoken dialogues.

We then unravel the language of South African road signs - turning signs into communicative tools. We then steer towards special considerations crafted meticulously for expats, acknowledging habits they bring from their home countries. It is a segment of introspection and unlearning, where some universal driving practices take a back seat, making way for norms and etiquettes that resonate with the South African road psyche. Addressing local driving nuances such as taxi behaviours becomes an enlightening experience, enabling expats to harmoniously blend in with the local driving culture. They are then equipped with essential emergency contacts and trained in the protocols to follow post-accidents, planting them firmly on the grounds of safety and assurance.

Practical coaching

The afternoon session starts with a foundational vehicle safety pre-check, where each participant becomes well-acquainted with the assigned vehicle's controls and safety features. Following this initiation, they transition into individual one-on-one coaching sessions with a seasoned instructor. Initially, the spotlight will be on mastering basic controls, including steering proficiency and the correct utilization of mirrors for heightened situational awareness.

Then, on quieter streets, they work on nurturing their confidence while learning the rules of signalling and right-of-way. A significant portion of the training is devoted to adeptly navigating roundabouts and intersections, a crucial aspect of daily driving in South Africa.

Thereafter, they immerse themselves in a practical parking tutorial, learning the fine nuances of parallel and angle parking through firsthand experience. As they gradually advance, the final individual session challenges them to apply their newly acquired skills on busy thoroughfares and highways, emphasizing safe merging techniques and the protocols of overtaking responsibly.

To foster a space for reflection and consolidation of the day’s learnings, the session culminates in a constructive feedback round. Here, they get to share their experiences, articulate concerns, and receive personalized advice from the instructor, thereby gearing them up to navigate the vibrant and diverse roads of South Africa with renewed confidence and competence.

Assessment methods

We conduct a formative theoretical assessment at the beginning of the course to gauge the learner’s initial understanding (novices only). At the end of the training, a summative theoretical and practical application assessment is conducted, to find if the learner is competent; if not, additional developmental areas are identified and suggested.