Belize vs Tanzania: Key Driving Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Belize and Tanzania, understanding their distinct driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key differences include driving sides—right in Belize versus left in Tanzania—and varied speed limits. Additionally, Belize lacks specialized bus and cycle lanes, which are prevalent in Tanzania, emphasizing the need for awareness of local customs and rules.
Lanes
| Belize | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; 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 dedicated lanes. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
belize:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belize:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
belize:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belize:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belize:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
tanzania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
tanzania:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
tanzania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belize:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belize | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-65 mph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 55-65 mph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 55-65 mph | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines are usually collected immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
belize:
25 mph
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belize:
25 mph
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
40-55 mph
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belize:
40-55 mph
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
40-55 mph
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
55-65 mph
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belize:
55-65 mph
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
55-65 mph
tanzania:
80 km/h
Speed Units
belize:
mph
tanzania:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belize:
No
tanzania:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belize:
Yes, fines are usually collected immediately
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Belize | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Belize | Not used in Tanzania |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belize:
Not used in Belize
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Traffic Signs: Language
belize:
English; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Turns
| Belize | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
belize:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belize:
Varies by locality; check for signs
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Belize | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annually; proof may be required | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belize:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belize:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belize:
Mandatory annually; proof may be required
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belize:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belize:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belize:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belize | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate usage compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belize:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belize:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belize | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used occasionally | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Significant fines apply |
Limits: Underage Drivers
belize:
Zero tolerance
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belize:
Less common; checkpoints used occasionally
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
belize:
Varies; can be substantial
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| Belize | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
belize:
911
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
belize:
911
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belize:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Belize | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; BZD$100 to $500 | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; significant fines | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, fines are often collected immediately | Common |
Common Fines: Speeding
belize:
Varies; BZD$100 to $500
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
belize:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belize:
Fines for non-compliance
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
belize:
Fines for use without hands-free
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belize:
Varies; significant fines
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
belize:
Yes, fines are often collected immediately
tanzania:
Common