Driving in Cyprus vs Tunisia: Key Differences for Safety
When navigating the roads of Cyprus and Tunisia, understanding their unique traffic regulations and practices is crucial for a safe journey. Key variations include driving on opposite sides, distinct speed limits, and specific lane usage rules. Familiarizing yourself with these essential driving distinctions will ensure a smooth experience while exploring these captivating destinations.
Lanes
| Cyprus | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not typically permitted. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for public transport. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
cyprus:
Left
tunisia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
tunisia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
cyprus:
Prohibited.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Limited
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cyprus:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cyprus | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cyprus:
50 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
100 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
100 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Signals
| Cyprus | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cyprus | Not typically used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
tunisia:
Not typically used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
tunisia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Cyprus | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
cyprus:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Cyprus | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cyprus:
International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cyprus | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
cyprus:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cyprus:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cyprus | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used routinely | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and strict | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cyprus:
0.02%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cyprus:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Roundabouts
| Cyprus | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
tunisia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Cyprus | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 197 |
Contact: General Emergency
cyprus:
112
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
cyprus:
112
tunisia:
197
Penalties And Fines
| Cyprus | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Strict enforcement | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Strict enforcement, fines apply | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines, points on license | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes |
Common Fines: Speeding
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
tunisia:
Yes