Driving in El Salvador vs. Madagascar: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of El Salvador and Madagascar, understanding the distinct roadway regulations and customs is crucial for a safe journey. From speed limits to lane usage, these nations exhibit unique practices. Notably, El Salvador permits certain maneuvers like right turns on red, while Madagascar imposes stricter rules. Explore these key variations to drive confidently abroad.
Lanes
| El salvador | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically not used. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are fixed. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
el salvador:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
el salvador:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| El salvador | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not commonly used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
madagascar:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
el salvador:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
el salvador:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
el salvador:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
el salvador:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
el salvador:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| El salvador | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| El salvador | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
madagascar:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
el salvador:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
el salvador:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
el salvador:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
el salvador:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| El salvador | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
el salvador:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
madagascar:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority