Driving Differences: Egypt vs. Tunisia Explained
Embarking on a journey through Egypt or Tunisia? Understanding the driving distinctions between these two North African nations is vital for a secure and smooth experience. From speed limits to lane regulations, key contrasts emerge, such as the approach to overtaking and the use of bus lanes. Stay informed to navigate safely!
Lanes
Egypt | Tunisia | |
---|---|---|
Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typically permitted. |
Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | N/A |
Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | N/A |
Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | N/A |
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.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
Egypt | Tunisia | |
---|---|---|
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 | 90 km/h |
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 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
tunisia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
Egypt | Tunisia | |
---|---|---|
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not typically used |
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 | Arabic and French; 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
tunisia:
Not typically used
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
tunisia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
tunisia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
tunisia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
tunisia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
tunisia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
tunisia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
Egypt | Tunisia | |
---|---|---|
Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Prohibited |
U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
Egypt | Tunisia | |
---|---|---|
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 |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Mandatory; proof may be required |
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on windshield |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
tunisia:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
Egypt | Tunisia | |
---|---|---|
Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Encouraged, 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 |
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
tunisia:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
tunisia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
Egypt | Tunisia | |
---|---|---|
Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; varies by offense |
Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
tunisia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
Egypt | Tunisia | |
---|---|---|
Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 197 |
Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 197 |
Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
Egypt | Tunisia | |
---|---|---|
Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
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 | DT 40 |
Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | DT 60 |
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes |
Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
tunisia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay