Driving Differences: Dominican Republic vs. Morocco
When navigating the roads of the Dominican Republic and Morocco, travelers will encounter notable variations in traffic regulations and safety practices. From speed limits and lane usage to emergency protocols and alcohol limits, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. Explore these crucial contrasts to enhance your journey.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | Departure depends on specific roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No; speed checks are done by police radar | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
morocco:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
morocco:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
morocco:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
morocco:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
morocco:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
80 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
morocco:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
morocco:
Yes
Signals
| Dominican republic | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Morocco |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
dominican republic:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
morocco:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Dominican republic | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
morocco:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Annual inspection required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
morocco:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
dominican republic:
0.05%
morocco:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
morocco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
morocco:
Substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
morocco:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 19 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required and recommended as a safety measure | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
dominican republic:
911
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
morocco:
19
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
morocco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay