Driving in Egypt vs. Turkey: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Egypt and Turkey, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence travel safety. Key differences include overtaking rules, speed limits, and the use of emergency equipment. Understanding these variances is essential for a secure driving experience in each country, ensuring you stay informed and protected while abroad.
Lanes
| Egypt | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| 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 with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| 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 colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
turkey:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
turkey:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
turkey:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
turkey:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
turkey:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
egypt:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 120 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
turkey:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
turkey:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
turkey:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
egypt:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Egypt | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| 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 prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| 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 | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
turkey:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
turkey:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
turkey:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
turkey:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
turkey:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Egypt | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Egypt | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
turkey:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | More 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
turkey:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
turkey:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
turkey:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
turkey:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
turkey:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges