Driving in Cyprus vs. Ivory Coast: Key Safety Differences
Embarking on a road trip to Cyprus or Ivory Coast? Understanding the distinct driving protocols and regulations in these two nations is crucial for a secure journey. From lane usage to speed limits, discover how the left-side driving in Cyprus contrasts with the right-side norm in Ivory Coast, ensuring you’re well-prepared for a safe adventure abroad.
Lanes
| Cyprus | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for public transport. | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
cyprus:
Left
ivory coast:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
ivory coast:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
ivory coast:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
cyprus:
Prohibited.
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
ivory coast:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Limited
ivory coast:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Exclusive for bicycles.
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cyprus:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Cyprus | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, for some infractions. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cyprus:
50 km/h
ivory coast:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
80 km/h
ivory coast:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
100 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
100 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
100 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cyprus:
Yes
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
Signals
| Cyprus | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cyprus | Not used in Ivory Coast |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
ivory coast:
Signal when exiting
Headlight Flash: Usage
cyprus:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Traffic Signs: Language
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Cyprus | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cyprus:
Not allowed
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Cyprus | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits without additional permits | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cyprus:
International Driving Permit recommended
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Mandatory
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cyprus | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
cyprus:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cyprus:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cyprus | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used routinely | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and strict | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cyprus:
0.05%
ivory coast:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cyprus:
0.02%
ivory coast:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cyprus:
0.00%; zero tolerance
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cyprus | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
ivory coast:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Cyprus | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 170 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
cyprus:
112
ivory coast:
170
Contact: Traffic Police
cyprus:
112
ivory coast:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cyprus:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Cyprus | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; fines may apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Strict enforcement | Varies, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Strict enforcement, fines apply | Fines may apply, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines, points on license | Fines may apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible for some infractions |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically stipulated |
Common Fines: Speeding
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
Payment: Deadline
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated