Driving in France vs. Uganda: Key Differences Explained
Driving in France and Uganda presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should understand. Key distinctions include the side of the road on which vehicles operate, speed limits, and traffic enforcement practices. By familiarizing yourself with these variations, you can enhance your safety and ensure a smoother journey in both countries.
Lanes
| France | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; 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: 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. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
france:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
uganda:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
uganda:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| France | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| France | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Uganda |
| 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; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
uganda:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
uganda:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| France | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| France | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
uganda:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
uganda:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Frequent use in certain situations |
| 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
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
uganda:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Roundabouts
| France | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
uganda:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket