Driving Differences: Fiji vs Madagascar Explained
When exploring the unique driving landscapes of Fiji and Madagascar, travelers will encounter notable contrasts in road regulations and safety practices. Noteworthy distinctions include driving on opposite sides of the road and varying speed limits, making familiarity with local customs essential for a secure journey. Understanding these variations can enhance your experience abroad.
Lanes
| Fiji | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Typically not used. |
| 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 | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are fixed. |
Driving Side
fiji:
Left
madagascar:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
madagascar:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
fiji:
No
madagascar:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
fiji:
Yes
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
fiji:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Fiji | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 kph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 kph | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 kph | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 kph | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 80-100 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
fiji:
50 kph
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
fiji:
30 kph
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
80 kph
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
fiji:
70 kph
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
60 kph
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
100 kph
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
fiji:
90 kph
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
80 kph
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Speed Units
fiji:
kph
madagascar:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
fiji:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Fiji | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Fiji | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can 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 | English; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
fiji:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
fiji:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
fiji:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
fiji:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
fiji:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Fiji | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed only where indicated by signs | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
fiji:
Not allowed.
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Fiji | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
fiji:
Displayed on the windshield
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Fiji | 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 | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles | 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 | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
fiji:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
fiji:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
fiji:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Fiji | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, potential loss of license | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: Professional Drivers
fiji:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
fiji:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Fiji | 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
fiji:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
fiji:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Fiji | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
fiji:
911
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Fiji | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500 | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines can apply | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply; obey signals | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority