Driving in Cyprus vs. Monaco: Key Safety Differences
Driving in Cyprus and Monaco presents unique challenges and regulations. While Cyprus adheres to left-side driving, Monaco operates on the right. Key distinctions include speed limits, traffic signaling, and road etiquette, where strict enforcement prevails in both locations. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure and smooth journey in either country.
Lanes
| Cyprus | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited. | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Limited, mostly on main roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for public transport. | Predominantly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. | Labeled ‘BUS’. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with small vehicles or buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
Driving Side
cyprus:
Left
monaco:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Overtaking: On Right
cyprus:
Prohibited.
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Limited
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Yes
monaco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Exclusive for bicycles.
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Speeds Limits
| Cyprus | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common for traffic violations |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cyprus:
50 km/h
monaco:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
100 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
100 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
100 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cyprus:
Yes
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
Signals
| Cyprus | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cyprus | Rare in Monaco, usually not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
cyprus:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
monaco:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
Turns
| Cyprus | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted where indicated; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cyprus:
Not allowed
monaco:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
Documentation
| Cyprus | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits without additional permits | Accepted; 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 | Required annually; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cyprus:
International Driving Permit recommended
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Mandatory
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
monaco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cyprus | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cyprus | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used routinely | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and strict | Can be substantial; varies by severity |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cyprus:
0.00%; zero tolerance
monaco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
Roundabouts
| Cyprus | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
monaco:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Cyprus | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 18 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Local police also available on 911 using GSM |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Available through service providers or insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cyprus:
112
monaco:
112 or 18
Contact: Traffic Police
cyprus:
112
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cyprus:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
monaco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cyprus | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; fines are substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Strict enforcement | Fine applies if not used |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Strict enforcement, fines apply | Substantial fines issued |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines, points on license | High fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; varies |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically must be settled soon |
Common Fines: Speeding
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
Common Fines: Phone Use
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
monaco:
High fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
monaco:
Possible; varies
Payment: Deadline
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon