Driving in France vs Morocco: Key Safety Differences
Embarking on a journey through France and Morocco? Understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for a secure trip. Key variations include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol limits, with France adopting stricter measures compared to Morocco's more relaxed rules. Stay informed to navigate these diverse driving landscapes safely!
Lanes
| France | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Departure depends on specific roads. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
morocco:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
morocco:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
morocco:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
morocco:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
france:
30 km/h
morocco:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
morocco:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
morocco:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
morocco:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
morocco:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
morocco:
Yes
Signals
| France | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Morocco |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
france:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
morocco:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
morocco:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| France | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| France | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Annual inspection required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
morocco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
morocco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
morocco:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
morocco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
morocco:
Substantial
Roundabouts
| France | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
morocco:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 19 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
morocco:
19
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| France | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
morocco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay