Driving in Germany vs. Tanzania: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Germany and Tanzania, various factors influence the driving experience and safety. Key distinctions include the side of the road drivers use, speed limits, and traffic signals. Understanding these variations ensures a smoother journey while enhancing overall road safety for travelers in both countries.
Lanes
| Germany | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
| 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
germany:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
tanzania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
germany:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
germany:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
germany:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Germany | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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 | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
germany:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
germany:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
germany:
100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
germany:
Common
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Germany | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to change to green | Not used in Tanzania |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Germany | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Germany | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Germany | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate usage compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
germany:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Germany | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
germany:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
germany:
0.00%
tanzania:
0.05%
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| Germany | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: Traffic Police
germany:
110
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €30 to €60 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
germany:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay