Driving Differences: Fiji vs. Ghana - What You Need to Know
When exploring the roads of Fiji and Ghana, travelers will encounter notable contrasts in vehicular regulations and road norms. While Fiji adheres to left-side driving, Ghana opts for the right. Speed limits and lane usage further illustrate the distinct approaches to ensuring road safety, making awareness of these variations essential for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Fiji | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Generally not advised. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
fiji:
Left
ghana:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
ghana:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
ghana:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
fiji:
No
ghana:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
fiji:
Yes
ghana:
Generally not advised.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
ghana:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
ghana:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
ghana:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
ghana:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
ghana:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
fiji:
N/A
ghana:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
ghana:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Fiji | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 kph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 kph | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 kph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 kph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 100 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
fiji:
50 kph
ghana:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
fiji:
30 kph
ghana:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
80 kph
ghana:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
fiji:
70 kph
ghana:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
60 kph
ghana:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
100 kph
ghana:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
fiji:
90 kph
ghana:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
80 kph
ghana:
100 km/h
Speed Units
fiji:
kph
ghana:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
ghana:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
ghana:
Yes
Signals
| Fiji | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Fiji | Not used in Ghana |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
ghana:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
ghana:
English
Traffic Signs: Warning
fiji:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
ghana:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Fiji | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed only where indicated by signs | Prohibited unless indicated |
Right Turn On Red
fiji:
Not allowed.
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
Documentation
| Fiji | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory | Mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
ghana:
Mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
fiji:
Displayed on the windshield
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory
ghana:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Fiji | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Fiji | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Yes, used occasionally |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, potential loss of license | Substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
ghana:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
Enforcement: Fines
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
ghana:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Fiji | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones | 18555 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
fiji:
911
ghana:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
ghana:
18555
Contact: Roadside Assistance
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
ghana:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
ghana:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Fiji | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500 | Varies; moderate to substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines can apply | Moderate fines |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply | Fines apply for holding and using a phone |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply; obey signals | Varies; moderate to substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
ghana:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
ghana:
Moderate fines
Common Fines: Phone Use
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
ghana:
Common
Payment: Deadline
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay