Driving in Egypt vs Greece: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Egypt and Greece, travelers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their driving experiences. From lane usage to speed limits, these nations exhibit notable contrasts. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safe navigation and compliance, making your journey abroad both enjoyable and secure.
Lanes
| Egypt | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | Not applicable |
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
greece:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
greece:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
greece:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
greece:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
greece:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
greece:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
greece:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
greece:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
greece:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
greece:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
greece:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
greece:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
greece:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
greece:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Egypt | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not used in Greece |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some situations due to high traffic density | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | Greek and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
greece:
Not used in Greece
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
greece:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
greece:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
greece:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
greece:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
greece:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Egypt | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
greece:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Egypt | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
greece:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
greece:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
greece:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
greece:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
greece:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common; police may set up roadblocks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties |
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 10400 for ELPA assistance |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
greece:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
greece:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
greece:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | €350, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | €350, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically 10 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
greece:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
greece:
€350, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
greece:
€100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
greece:
€350, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay