Driving in Ghana vs Maldives: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roadways of Ghana and the Maldives, motorists will encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their driving experiences. Key differences include driving sides—right in Ghana and left in the Maldives—as well as varying speed limits and road markings. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring safe navigation in both countries.
Lanes
| Ghana | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not advised. | Yes, when safe and legal. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be designated with road signs or markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Minimal |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Usually not specifically marked in many areas. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
ghana:
Right
maldives:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ghana:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
maldives:
Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ghana:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
maldives:
Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives.
Overtaking: On Left
ghana:
Yes
maldives:
No
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
maldives:
Yes, when safe and legal.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ghana:
Use rightmost lane.
maldives:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
maldives:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
maldives:
Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
maldives:
May be designated with road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
maldives:
Minimal
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
maldives:
Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
maldives:
Usually not specifically marked in many areas.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ghana:
N/A
maldives:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
maldives:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
ghana:
50 km/h
maldives:
30 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ghana:
50 km/h
maldives:
25 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
100 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
ghana:
100 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
100 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
maldives:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ghana:
Yes
maldives:
Common
Signals
| Ghana | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ghana | Not commonly used in Maldives |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English | Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Country-specific shapes and colors |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
maldives:
Not commonly used in Maldives
Horn Usage: Allowed
ghana:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
maldives:
Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
maldives:
Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ghana:
Triangular with red border
maldives:
Country-specific shapes and colors
Turns
| Ghana | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed unless signed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated |
| Special Turn Lanes | Yes, marked with arrows | Limited, mainly at main intersections |
Right Turn On Red
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
maldives:
Not allowed unless signed
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
maldives:
Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated
Special Turn Lanes
ghana:
Yes, marked with arrows
maldives:
Limited, mainly at main intersections
Documentation
| Ghana | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory | Periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Usually displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
maldives:
Periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
maldives:
Usually displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
ghana:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
maldives:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
maldives:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
maldives:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ghana | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Less common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
ghana:
0.08%
maldives:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ghana:
0.05%
maldives:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
maldives:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
maldives:
Fines can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Ghana | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Appropriate lanes as per signage |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Appropriate lanes as per signage |
Lane Usage: Right
ghana:
Use for first exit or straight
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
Lane Usage: Left
ghana:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
Emergency Services
| Ghana | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | Contact local police for traffic issues |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ghana:
191
maldives:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
maldives:
Contact local police for traffic issues
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Varies; fines start from MVR 750 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Moderate fines | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | Fines for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Possible for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within a specified time |
Common Fines: Speeding
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
maldives:
Varies; fines start from MVR 750
Common Fines: Alcohol
ghana:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
maldives:
Severe penalties including license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
maldives:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
maldives:
Fines for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
maldives:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
maldives:
Possible for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
maldives:
Varies; typically within a specified time