Driving in France vs Mozambique: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of France and Mozambique, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. From lane usage, where France favors the right and Mozambique the left, to variations in speed limits and road etiquette, understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a safe journey abroad.
Lanes
| France | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Centers the road for no-passing zones. |
| 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. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
france:
Right
mozambique:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
mozambique:
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.
mozambique:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
mozambique:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
mozambique:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
mozambique:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
mozambique:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 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
mozambique:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
france:
30 km/h
mozambique:
40 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
mozambique:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
mozambique:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
mozambique:
Yes
Signals
| France | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Mozambique |
| 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 | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
mozambique:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
mozambique:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| France | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| France | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Annually |
| 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
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
mozambique:
Annually
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
mozambique:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
mozambique:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
mozambique:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
mozambique:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common, especially in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
mozambique:
0.06%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| France | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
mozambique:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 121 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
mozambique:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
mozambique:
121
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| France | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Common; fines often paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
mozambique:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,