Driving Differences: Canada vs. Mozambique
When traversing the roads of Canada and Mozambique, understanding the nuances of each nation's driving regulations is essential for ensuring a safe journey. Key distinctions include the side of the road on which vehicles operate and varying speed limits, with Canada favoring right-hand driving and Mozambique adhering to the left. Equip yourself with this vital knowledge for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Canada | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Centers the road for no-passing zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
canada:
Right
mozambique:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
mozambique:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
mozambique:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
mozambique:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
mozambique:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
mozambique:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
mozambique:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
mozambique:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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 | 90-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
mozambique:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
mozambique:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
mozambique:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
mozambique:
Yes
Signals
| Canada | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in Mozambique |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Canada | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Canada | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
mozambique:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
mozambique:
Annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
mozambique:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
mozambique:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
mozambique:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
mozambique:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Canada | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common, especially in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
mozambique:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
mozambique:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Canada | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 121 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
mozambique:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
mozambique:
121
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
mozambique:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
mozambique:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common; fines often paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,