Driving in Egypt vs. North Macedonia: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Egypt and North Macedonia, distinct contrasts emerge that can significantly impact your journey. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and legal requirements, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. Explore the essential differences to drive safely and confidently in these two unique countries.
Lanes
| Egypt | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| 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 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 marked paths. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
north macedonia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 120 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 | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| Egypt | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Prepare to go |
| 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 | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| 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 |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not 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 | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
egypt:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
north macedonia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
north macedonia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
north macedonia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Egypt | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Egypt | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
north macedonia:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice |
| 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
north macedonia:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
north macedonia:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
north macedonia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
north macedonia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Egypt | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, 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 | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
north macedonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay