Driving in Denmark vs. Ghana: Key Differences Uncovered
Discover the fascinating contrasts in road regulations and driving practices between Denmark and Ghana. From speed limits and lane usage to alcohol thresholds and emergency contacts, this comparison highlights essential variations that impact safety on the road. Whether navigating through Copenhagen's bike lanes or Accra's bustling streets, understanding these distinctions is crucial for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Denmark | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used temporarily in construction zones. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic. | Generally not advised. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
denmark:
Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.
ghana:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
denmark:
Used temporarily in construction zones.
ghana:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
denmark:
Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.
ghana:
Generally not advised.
Bus Lanes: Presence
denmark:
Yes
ghana:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
denmark:
Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.
ghana:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.
ghana:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
denmark:
Yes
ghana:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
denmark:
Exclusive for bicycles.
ghana:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.
ghana:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
denmark:
Not applicable
ghana:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
denmark:
Yes
ghana:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits.
ghana:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Denmark | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for minor offenses. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
denmark:
30 km/h
ghana:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
110-130 km/h
ghana:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
denmark:
90-100 km/h
ghana:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
denmark:
80 km/h
ghana:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
denmark:
Yes
ghana:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits
ghana:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
denmark:
Yes, for minor offenses.
ghana:
Yes
Signals
| Denmark | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green. | Not used in Ghana |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Danish; symbols are standard | English |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
denmark:
Used before green.
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
denmark:
Signal when entering and exiting
ghana:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
denmark:
Danish; symbols are standard
ghana:
English
Turns
| Denmark | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians. | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign. | Prohibited unless indicated |
Right Turn On Red
denmark:
Not allowed
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Left Turn: General
denmark:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
ghana:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
denmark:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
Documentation
| Denmark | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays | 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles | Mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
denmark:
Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
denmark:
International Driving Permit recommended
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
denmark:
Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles
ghana:
Mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
denmark:
Displayed on the windshield
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended
ghana:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Denmark | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
denmark:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Denmark | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; carried out by the police | Yes, used occasionally |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
denmark:
0.05%
ghana:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
denmark:
0.02%
ghana:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
denmark:
0.00%; zero tolerance
ghana:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
denmark:
Common; carried out by the police
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
Enforcement: Fines
denmark:
Can be substantial
ghana:
Substantial
Roundabouts
| Denmark | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if taking any exit other than first | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
denmark:
Signal left if taking any exit other than first
ghana:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Denmark | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact general emergency to report traffic issues | 18555 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurer or patrol services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
denmark:
112
ghana:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
denmark:
Contact general emergency to report traffic issues
ghana:
18555
Contact: Roadside Assistance
denmark:
Contact your insurer or patrol services
ghana:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended but not mandatory
ghana:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Denmark | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant | Varies; moderate to substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats | Moderate fines |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free required | Fines apply for holding and using a phone |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and possible license points | Varies; moderate to substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
denmark:
Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
denmark:
Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail
ghana:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
denmark:
Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats
ghana:
Moderate fines
Common Fines: Phone Use
denmark:
Fines apply, use of hands-free required
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
denmark:
Significant fines and possible license points
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
denmark:
Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer
ghana:
Common
Payment: Deadline
denmark:
Varies; typically within 14 days
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay