Driving in Croatia vs Madagascar: Key Safety Differences
When traveling from Croatia to Madagascar, understanding the diverse regulations and practices on the road is essential for safe navigation. Key contrasts include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol tolerance, with Croatia enforcing stricter measures while Madagascar offers more relaxed rules. Familiarizing yourself with these variations can help ensure a smoother driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Croatia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically not used. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are fixed. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
croatia:
Yes
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
croatia:
Yes
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
croatia:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
croatia:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
croatia:
30 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
90 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
croatia:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Croatia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not commonly used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Croatian; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
madagascar:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
croatia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
croatia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
croatia:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
croatia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
croatia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Croatia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
croatia:
Not allowed
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Croatia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
croatia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
croatia:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
croatia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
croatia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Croatia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common in urban areas |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
croatia:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Test Refusal
croatia:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Croatia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
croatia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
croatia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Croatia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
croatia:
112
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
croatia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority