Driving in Afghanistan vs. Italy: Key Safety Differences
Driving in Afghanistan and Italy presents distinct contrasts that every traveler should heed. While Afghanistan lacks structured lanes and specific speed regulations, Italy boasts dedicated bus and cycle lanes, variable speed limits, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws. Understanding these variations is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
italy:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
italy:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
italy:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
italy:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
italy:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
italy:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
italy:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
italy:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
italy:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
italy:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Afghanistan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Used; prepare to go when green appears |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | Italian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Afghanistan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
afghanistan:
Displayed on windshield
italy:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
italy:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
italy:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 113 (State Police) |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | 116 (ACI) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
italy:
113 (State Police)
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
italy:
116 (ACI)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | Varies; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | Fines apply, strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | Fines apply, may include points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Possible, especially for foreign drivers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
italy:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days