Driving in Bangladesh vs. Tanzania: Key Differences
Explore the distinct road regulations and driving customs of Bangladesh and Tanzania to ensure your journey abroad is both safe and enjoyable. Key highlights include significant variations in speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol regulations, making it essential for travelers to understand these disparities for a secure driving experience.
Lanes
| Bangladesh | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on some roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used to indicate a centerline; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in major cities | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles generally use the edge of the road. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bangladesh:
Marks the right edge on some roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bangladesh:
Often used to indicate a centerline; passing permitted when safe.
tanzania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
bangladesh:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bangladesh:
Generally not allowed.
tanzania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Presence
bangladesh:
Yes, in major cities
tanzania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bangladesh:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bangladesh:
Often marked with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bangladesh:
No
tanzania:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bangladesh:
Bicycles generally use the edge of the road.
tanzania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bangladesh:
N/A
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
Speeds Limits
| Bangladesh | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major areas | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bangladesh:
25-50 km/h
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bangladesh:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bangladesh:
50-70 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bangladesh:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bangladesh:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bangladesh:
Yes, in major areas
tanzania:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bangladesh:
Yes, common practice
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Bangladesh | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bangladesh | Not used in Tanzania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bengali; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
bangladesh:
Proceed with caution, yield to other vehicles
tanzania:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bangladesh:
Not used in Bangladesh
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bangladesh:
Unnecessary use discouraged
tanzania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bangladesh:
Bengali; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bangladesh:
Triangular-shaped with red border
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bangladesh | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not commonly permitted | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bangladesh:
Not commonly permitted
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bangladesh:
Varies by area; check for signs
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bangladesh | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually, proof displayed on vehicle | Required annually |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bangladesh:
International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bangladesh:
International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bangladesh:
Annually, proof displayed on vehicle
tanzania:
Required annually
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bangladesh:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bangladesh:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bangladesh | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate usage compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bangladesh:
Frequent use compared to some countries
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bangladesh:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bangladesh | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in checkpoints | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by offense | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
tanzania:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bangladesh:
Common in checkpoints
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bangladesh:
Substantial, varies by offense
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Roundabouts
| Bangladesh | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bangladesh:
Signal left when preparing to exit
tanzania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bangladesh | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 9999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 112 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bangladesh:
9999
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bangladesh:
Contact local police
tanzania:
112
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bangladesh:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bangladesh:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bangladesh | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can include fines and points | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable, varies by enforcement | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, varies by enforcement | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies depending on the severity of the violation | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | More common than in the USA | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate resolution preferred | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bangladesh:
Varies; can include fines and points
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
bangladesh:
Substantial fines, possible imprisonment
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bangladesh:
Fines applicable, varies by enforcement
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bangladesh:
Fines apply, varies by enforcement
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bangladesh:
Varies depending on the severity of the violation
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
bangladesh:
More common than in the USA
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
bangladesh:
Varies; typically immediate resolution preferred
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay