Comparing Driving in Chile and Mozambique: Key Differences
As travelers navigate the roads of Chile and Mozambique, understanding the variations in driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving sides—right in Chile versus left in Mozambique—and significant speed limits. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts can enhance your road experience and enhance safety while abroad.
Lanes
| Chile | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets. | Centers the road for no-passing zones. |
| 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. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
chile:
Right
mozambique:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
chile:
Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets.
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
chile:
Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads.
mozambique:
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.
mozambique:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
chile:
Use rightmost lane.
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
chile:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
chile:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations.
mozambique:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
chile:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
chile:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
chile:
Exclusive for bicycles.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
chile:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
mozambique:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
chile:
N/A
mozambique:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
chile:
N/A
mozambique:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Chile | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| 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
mozambique:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
chile:
100 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
chile:
100 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
100 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
90 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
chile:
N/A
mozambique:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
chile:
Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations
mozambique:
Yes
Signals
| Chile | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Chile | Not used in Mozambique |
| 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 | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
chile:
Not used in Chile
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
chile:
Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools
mozambique:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
chile:
Spanish; symbols are standard
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
chile:
Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Chile | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
chile:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
U- Turns Allowed
chile:
Varies by locality; check for signs
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Chile | 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Annually |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
chile:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
chile:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
chile:
Required annually
mozambique:
Annually
Road Etiquette
| Chile | 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
chile:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
mozambique:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Chile | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties, including suspension of license | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
chile:
0.03%
mozambique:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
chile:
0.00%
mozambique:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
chile:
0.00%; zero tolerance
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
chile:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
chile:
Substantial penalties, including suspension of license
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Chile | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
chile:
Signal if turning upon entry
mozambique:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Chile | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 133 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 or 139 on mobile phones | 121 |
| 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
mozambique:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
chile:
133 or 139 on mobile phones
mozambique:
121
Contact: Roadside Assistance
chile:
Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Chile | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free technology | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, includes license suspension | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations | Common; fines often paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically short timeframe to pay | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, |
Common Fines: Speeding
chile:
Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
chile:
Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment
mozambique:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
chile:
Fines apply for non-use
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
chile:
Fines for use without hands-free technology
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
chile:
Significant fines, includes license suspension
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
chile:
Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
chile:
Varies; typically short timeframe to pay
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,