Driving in France vs. Tanzania: Key Safety Differences
Explore the fascinating contrasts in vehicular regulations and road etiquette between France and Tanzania. While France adheres to right-side driving with strict speed limits and advanced traffic signals, Tanzania offers a unique left-side experience with different overtaking norms. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a safe journey in either nation.
Lanes
| France | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the right 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 Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| 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 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
france:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
tanzania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
france:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 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: Residential Zones
france:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| France | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Tanzania |
| 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 | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
tanzania:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
tanzania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| France | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| France | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Required 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
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
tanzania:
Required annually
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Moderate usage 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
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
tanzania:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Roundabouts
| France | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
tanzania:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| France | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | 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 | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Common |
| 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
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay