Driving Differences: Dominican Republic vs. Tanzania
When navigating the roads of the Dominican Republic and Tanzania, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experience. Notably, while the Dominican Republic drives on the right, Tanzania adheres to left-side traffic. Understanding these variations, from speed limits to lane usage, is essential for ensuring a secure journey in both nations.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | Yes |
| 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 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
dominican republic:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
dominican republic:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
dominican republic:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
tanzania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
tanzania:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
tanzania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30-50 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: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 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
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
tanzania:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Dominican republic | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Tanzania |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
tanzania:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Turns
| Dominican republic | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | 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
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Moderate usage 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
tanzania:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Significant fines apply |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
dominican republic:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%
tanzania:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
tanzania:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| 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
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| 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 | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Common |
| 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
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
dominican republic:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay