Driving in Afghanistan vs Morocco: Key Safety Differences
Embarking on a journey through Afghanistan and Morocco? It's essential to understand the distinct driving regulations and road cultures that influence your travel safety. Key differences abound, from speed limits and lane markings to the protocols for emergency vehicles and alcohol consumption. Equip yourself with this vital knowledge for a safer, smoother experience on the roads of these diverse nations.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| 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 | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Departure depends on specific roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
morocco:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
morocco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
morocco:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
morocco:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
morocco:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
morocco:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
morocco:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
morocco:
Yes
Signals
| Afghanistan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not used in Morocco |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
afghanistan:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Afghanistan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
morocco:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield. |
| 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
morocco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
afghanistan:
Displayed on windshield
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
afghanistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
morocco:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
morocco:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 19 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
afghanistan:
112
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
morocco:
19
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; can be substantial |
| 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 | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
morocco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay