Driving in El Salvador vs. Tanzania: Key Safety Differences
When comparing driving practices in El Salvador and Tanzania, notable distinctions emerge. From lane usage—where El Salvador favors right-side driving and Tanzania adheres to the left—to varying speed limits and documentation requirements, understanding these disparities is essential for safe navigation in unfamiliar territories. Gear up for a journey marked by unique road regulations!
Lanes
| El salvador | 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: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
Driving Side
el salvador:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
el salvador:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
el salvador:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| El salvador | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Tanzania |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
tanzania:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| El salvador | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tanzania:
Not allowed
Documentation
| El salvador | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Moderate usage compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
tanzania:
0.05%
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay