Driving Differences: Cyprus vs Egypt for Safe Travel
Discover the unique nuances of road regulations in Cyprus and Egypt. While Cyprus mandates left-sided driving, Egypt opts for right. Speed limits and lane usages differ significantly, impacting how safe you feel behind the wheel. Understanding these contrasts will enhance your overall travel experience and ensure a secure journey in either country.
Lanes
| Cyprus | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for public transport. | Typically used by buses and minibuses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. | Not consistently marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Often unmarked. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Fixed speed limits. |
Driving Side
cyprus:
Left
egypt:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
egypt:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
egypt:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
cyprus:
Prohibited.
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Yes
egypt:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Exclusive for bicycles.
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
egypt:
Often unmarked.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cyprus | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Fixed speed limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are often paid immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
cyprus:
50 km/h
egypt:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cyprus:
50 km/h
egypt:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
80 km/h
egypt:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
80 km/h
egypt:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
80 km/h
egypt:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
100 km/h
egypt:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
100 km/h
egypt:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
100 km/h
egypt:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cyprus:
Yes
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
Signals
| Cyprus | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cyprus | Not used in Egypt |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | Fines can occur for excessive misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To signal other drivers or warn of presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not officially regulated |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used in some situations due to high traffic density |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangles with a red border and white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
egypt:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
cyprus:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cyprus:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
Horn Usage: Penalties
cyprus:
Fines may apply for misuse
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
cyprus:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
cyprus:
Not to be used to signal other messages
egypt:
Not officially regulated
Hand Signals: Common Usage
cyprus:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
Traffic Signs: Language
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
Turns
| Cyprus | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
cyprus:
Not allowed
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
Documentation
| Cyprus | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid driver's license required | Valid Egyptian driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits without additional permits | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Provided after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
cyprus:
Valid driver's license required
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cyprus:
International Driving Permit recommended
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
egypt:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cyprus | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Discouraged, fines may apply | Common in high traffic areas |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, though not always observed |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Give way and allow passage |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
cyprus:
Discouraged, fines may apply
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
cyprus:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
Use Of Horn: Limited
cyprus:
Only in emergency situations
egypt:
Commonly used
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cyprus:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
Alcohol
| Cyprus | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used routinely | Conducted frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and strict | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in penalties and license suspension |
Enforcement: Random Checks
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
egypt:
Conducted frequently
Enforcement: Fines
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
egypt:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
cyprus:
Can result in license suspension
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Cyprus | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
cyprus:
Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately
egypt:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Cyprus | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 122 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 122 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cyprus:
112
egypt:
122
Contact: Traffic Police
cyprus:
112
egypt:
122
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cyprus:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
egypt:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cyprus | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Strict enforcement | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Strict enforcement, fines apply | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines, points on license | Significant fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes; fines are often paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within a few weeks |
Common Fines: Speeding
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
cyprus:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks