Driving in Egypt vs. Tanzania: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Egypt and Tanzania, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. Key differences, such as driving on the right versus left side, varied speed limits, and unique lane usages, underscore the importance of understanding local road rules to enhance safety and ensure a smooth journey in these vibrant countries.
Lanes
| Egypt | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| 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 'DART'; 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 dedicated lanes. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
egypt:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
egypt:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
egypt:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
tanzania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
tanzania:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
tanzania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-50 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 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
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Egypt | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not used in Tanzania |
| 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; local ordinances may apply |
| 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 | English and Swahili; 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
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
tanzania:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
tanzania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
tanzania:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
tanzania:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
tanzania:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
tanzania:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Egypt | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
tanzania:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Egypt | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
tanzania:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 usage compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
tanzania:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
tanzania:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
tanzania:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Significant fines apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
egypt:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
tanzania:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
tanzania:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 112 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
tanzania:
112
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | 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 | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay