Driving in Dominican Republic vs. Mozambique: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of the Dominican Republic and Mozambique, drivers must be aware of distinct regulations and customs that influence their travel experience. Key differences include the driving side, speed limits, and lane usage, all essential for ensuring a safe journey. Understanding these variances is crucial for a worry-free adventure abroad.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Centers the road for no-passing zones. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
dominican republic:
Right
mozambique:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
dominican republic:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
Overtaking: On Right
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
mozambique:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
mozambique:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
mozambique:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
mozambique:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
mozambique:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
mozambique:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
mozambique:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80 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
mozambique:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
mozambique:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
mozambique:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
80 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
mozambique:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
mozambique:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
mozambique:
Yes
Signals
| Dominican republic | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Mozambique |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
mozambique:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Dominican republic | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
mozambique:
Annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
mozambique:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
mozambique:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
mozambique:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
mozambique:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
mozambique:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
mozambique:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common, especially in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
dominican republic:
0.05%
mozambique:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%
mozambique:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
mozambique:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 121 |
| 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
mozambique:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
mozambique:
121
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
mozambique:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
mozambique:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Common; fines often paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,