Driving Differences: Chile vs. Morocco - Stay Safe Abroad
When navigating the roads of Chile and Morocco, drivers encounter notable variations in regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. From speed limits and lane usage to traffic signals and alcohol restrictions, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Explore how these two countries uniquely shape their driving environments for safety and compliance.
Lanes
| Chile | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Departure depends on specific roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
chile:
Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets.
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
chile:
Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads.
morocco:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
chile:
Prohibited unless on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
chile:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
chile:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations.
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
chile:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs.
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
chile:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
chile:
Exclusive for bicycles.
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
chile:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Chile | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
chile:
50 km/h
morocco:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
chile:
100 km/h
morocco:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
100 km/h
morocco:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
90 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
chile:
Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations
morocco:
Yes
Signals
| Chile | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Chile | Not used in Morocco |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
chile:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
chile:
Not used in Chile
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
chile:
Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools
morocco:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
chile:
Spanish; symbols are standard
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
chile:
Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Chile | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
chile:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
morocco:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
chile:
Varies by locality; check for signs
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Chile | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Annual inspection required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield. |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
chile:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
chile:
Required annually
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
chile:
Displayed on windshield
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Road Etiquette
| Chile | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less 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
chile:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
chile:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Chile | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties, including suspension of license | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
chile:
0.03%
morocco:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
chile:
0.00%; zero tolerance
morocco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
chile:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
chile:
Substantial penalties, including suspension of license
morocco:
Substantial
Roundabouts
| Chile | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
chile:
Signal if turning upon entry
morocco:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Chile | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 133 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 or 139 on mobile phones | 19 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
chile:
133
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
chile:
133 or 139 on mobile phones
morocco:
19
Contact: Roadside Assistance
chile:
Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Chile | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free technology | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, includes license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically short timeframe to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
chile:
Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
chile:
Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment
morocco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
chile:
Fines apply for non-use
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
chile:
Fines for use without hands-free technology
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
chile:
Significant fines, includes license suspension
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
chile:
Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
chile:
Varies; typically short timeframe to pay
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay