Driving in El Salvador vs. Uganda: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the roads of El Salvador and Uganda, distinct driving regulations and practices emerge. Key differences include driving on the right in El Salvador versus the left in Uganda, varying speed limits, and unique rules for overtaking. Understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either nation.
Lanes
| El salvador | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
el salvador:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
el salvador:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
el salvador:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
el salvador:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 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 | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
uganda:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
uganda:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
el salvador:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
uganda:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| El salvador | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Uganda |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
uganda:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| El salvador | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
uganda:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| El salvador | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
uganda:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
uganda:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Frequent use in certain situations |
| 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
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
uganda:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
uganda:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket