Driving in Egypt vs Romania: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Egypt and Romania, drivers encounter significant variations in regulations and practices. From lane usage and speed limits to emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions is crucial for safe travel. This comparison highlights the stark contrasts between the two nations, ensuring travelers are well-prepared for their journeys abroad.
Lanes
| Egypt | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| 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 commonly used |
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
romania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
romania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
romania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
romania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
romania:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Egypt | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not used in Romania |
| 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 | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| 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 | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
romania:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
romania:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
romania:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
romania:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
romania:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Egypt | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Egypt | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Yes, periodic inspections 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
romania:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 expected |
| 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
romania:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
romania:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
romania:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
romania:
Moderate use expected
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
romania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Considerable fines for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
egypt:
0.05%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
romania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
romania:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
egypt:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist