Driving Differences: Egypt vs. Jordan Revealed
When navigating the roads of Egypt and Jordan, drivers encounter notable distinctions that can impact their travel experience. From lane usage and speed regulations to the nuances of road etiquette and emergency protocols, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Discover the key contrasts that shape driving practices in these two fascinating countries.
Lanes
| Egypt | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the roadway. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | No specific bus lanes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Buses share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Limited; primarily in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | Shared with vehicular traffic. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | Cycle symbols where applicable. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
egypt:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
jordan:
Marks the edge of the roadway.
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
jordan:
Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
jordan:
No specific bus lanes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
jordan:
Buses share lanes with other vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
jordan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
jordan:
Limited; primarily in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
jordan:
Shared with vehicular traffic.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
jordan:
Cycle symbols where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
jordan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
jordan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes; common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
jordan:
50-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
jordan:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
jordan:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
jordan:
Yes; common.
Signals
| Egypt | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not typically used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | To avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse |
| 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 | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
jordan:
Not typically used
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
jordan:
To avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
jordan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
jordan:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
jordan:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
jordan:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
jordan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
jordan:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
jordan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Egypt | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
jordan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
jordan:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Egypt | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Annual inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
jordan:
Valid driver's license required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
jordan:
Annual inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
jordan:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Moderate use is common |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
jordan:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
jordan:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
jordan:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
jordan:
Moderate use is common
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
jordan:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common at checkpoints |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
jordan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
jordan:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
jordan:
Common at checkpoints
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
jordan:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
jordan:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
jordan:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
jordan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
jordan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| 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 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes, occasionally |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
jordan:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
jordan:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
jordan:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
jordan:
Yes, occasionally
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
jordan:
Typically 30 days to pay