Driving Differences: Colombia vs. Uganda Explained
Discover the essential distinctions in road regulations and driving practices between Colombia and Uganda. From varying speed limits to lane usage protocols, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable travel experience. Learn how each nation's unique traffic laws can impact your journey abroad.
Lanes
| Colombia | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
colombia:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
colombia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
colombia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
colombia:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
colombia:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
colombia:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
uganda:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
60-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
colombia:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Colombia | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | Not used in Uganda |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Colombia | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
uganda:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Colombia | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in certain situations |
| 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
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Colombia | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
uganda:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
colombia:
0.02%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
uganda:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Colombia | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
colombia:
123
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
colombia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket