Driving in Costa Rica vs. Tanzania: Key Differences
Costa Rica and Tanzania offer unique driving experiences shaped by their distinct regulations and road cultures. Key differences include driving on the right in Costa Rica versus the left in Tanzania, varied speed limits, and the presence of bus lanes. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safe travels in these diverse nations.
Lanes
| Costa rica | 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 | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Driving Side
costa rica:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
costa rica:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
costa rica:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
tanzania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
tanzania:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
tanzania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
tanzania:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Costa rica | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Tanzania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
tanzania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Costa rica | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | 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 | Annual inspection required; proof required | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
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
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | 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
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
tanzania:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Common |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
tanzania:
Common