Driving Differences: Algeria vs. El Salvador
When navigating the roads of Algeria and El Salvador, understanding the distinct traffic regulations and practices is essential for a safe journey. Key differences include overtaking rules, speed limits, and road etiquette, which can significantly impact your driving experience. Familiarize yourself with these variations to ensure safety while abroad.
Lanes
| Algeria | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except on one-way roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Not applicable | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not applicable | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Not applicable | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Not applicable | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
algeria:
Prohibited except on one-way roads.
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
algeria:
No
el salvador:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
algeria:
Not applicable
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
algeria:
Not applicable
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
algeria:
No
el salvador:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
algeria:
Not applicable
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
algeria:
Not applicable
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
algeria:
Not applicable
el salvador:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
algeria:
Not applicable
el salvador:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Algeria | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
Urban Areas: Standard
algeria:
50 km/h
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
algeria:
50 km/h
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
algeria:
100 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
algeria:
90 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
algeria:
80 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
algeria:
120 km/h
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
algeria:
100 km/h
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
algeria:
90 km/h
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
algeria:
Not applicable
el salvador:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
algeria:
Yes
el salvador:
No
Signals
| Algeria | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not typically used | Not common in El Salvador |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Usually triangular with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
algeria:
Not typically used
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
algeria:
Signal when exiting
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
algeria:
Excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
el salvador:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
algeria:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
algeria:
Usually triangular with red borders
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Algeria | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
algeria:
Usually not allowed unless indicated
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
algeria:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by sign
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Algeria | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every few years, varies based on vehicle age | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
algeria:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
algeria:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
algeria:
Mandatory every few years, varies based on vehicle age
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
algeria:
Displayed on windshield
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
algeria:
Mandatory
el salvador:
Required
Road Etiquette
| Algeria | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Frequent use in some areas to communicate |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Yield and make way |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
algeria:
More frequent use than in some countries
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
Pedestrians Priority
algeria:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crosswalks
el salvador:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
algeria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
el salvador:
Yield and make way
Alcohol
| Algeria | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Checkpoints used especially on holidays | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines and penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
algeria:
0.02%
el salvador:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
algeria:
0.00%
el salvador:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
algeria:
0.00%; zero tolerance
el salvador:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
algeria:
Checkpoints used especially on holidays
el salvador:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
algeria:
Varies; can be substantial
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
Emergency Services
| Algeria | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 1548 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 | 120 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or auto club | 121 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
Contact: General Emergency
algeria:
1548
el salvador:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
algeria:
17
el salvador:
120
Contact: Roadside Assistance
algeria:
Contact insurance provider or auto club
el salvador:
121
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
algeria:
Mandatory
el salvador:
Required
Penalties And Fines
| Algeria | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can reach up to several thousand dinars | Varies; $20 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Heavy fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed for non-compliance | $20 to $50 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed for non-compliance | $30 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines imposed, may include points on license | $50 to $200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; also through post or bank | Yes, frequently enforced |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid promptly | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
algeria:
Varies; can reach up to several thousand dinars
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
Common Fines: Alcohol
algeria:
Heavy fines, possible jail time
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
algeria:
Fines imposed for non-compliance
el salvador:
$20 to $50
Common Fines: Phone Use
algeria:
Fines imposed for non-compliance
el salvador:
$30 to $100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
algeria:
Fines imposed, may include points on license
el salvador:
$50 to $200
Payment: On The Spot
algeria:
Possible; also through post or bank
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
Payment: Deadline
algeria:
Varies; typically must be paid promptly
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay