Driving in France vs Senegal: Key Safety Differences
Discover the essential contrasts in road rules and regulations between France and Senegal to enhance your travel experience. From speed limits and lane markings to traffic signals and alcohol regulations, this comparison highlights crucial variations that can impact your journey. Stay informed and drive safely as you navigate these distinct driving landscapes.
Lanes
| France | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: 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. |
| 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.
senegal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
senegal:
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.
senegal:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
senegal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
senegal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 110 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 |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
senegal:
110 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
senegal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
senegal:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
senegal:
Yes
Signals
| France | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Senegal |
| 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: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
senegal:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
senegal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| France | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not commonly allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| France | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or 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
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
senegal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
senegal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
france:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
senegal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Roundabouts
| France | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
senegal:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 18 or 17 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 17 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
senegal:
18 or 17
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
senegal:
17
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
senegal:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| France | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | 10,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Varies; significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Yes; often required immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
senegal:
10,000 CFA
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days