Driving in Egypt vs. Madagascar: Key Safety Differences
When driving in Egypt or Madagascar, understanding the distinct traffic regulations and road customs is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. From lane usage to speed limits and the significance of signaling, these two countries present unique driving landscapes that every traveler should navigate with care. Discover the key contrasts that will enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Egypt | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically not used. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | Speed limits are fixed. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
egypt:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
egypt:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 80-100 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 | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
egypt:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Egypt | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers or signal 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 | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
madagascar:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Egypt | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Egypt | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
madagascar:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
madagascar:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
egypt:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common in urban areas |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
egypt:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Egypt | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
egypt:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
egypt:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority