Driving in Ghana vs Nigeria: Key Safety Differences
Welcome to our driving comparison between Ghana and Nigeria, where you'll discover essential variations that can influence your travel experience. From distinct traffic regulations to speed limits and road etiquette, understanding these disparities is vital for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Prepare for a smoother ride by familiarizing yourself with the unique driving customs of both nations.
Lanes
| Ghana | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used as a divider on major roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used; overtaking may be allowed on overtaking lanes. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not advised. | Only where permitted and safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use rightmost lane where applicable. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved mainly for BRT buses in certain cities. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be labeled 'BRT' or demarcated with other markers; signs often indicate lanes. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Bicycles and motorbikes often share roads with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ghana:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nigeria:
Used as a divider on major roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ghana:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
nigeria:
Not commonly used; overtaking may be allowed on overtaking lanes.
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
nigeria:
Only where permitted and safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ghana:
Use rightmost lane.
nigeria:
Use rightmost lane where applicable.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
nigeria:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
nigeria:
Reserved mainly for BRT buses in certain cities.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
nigeria:
May be labeled 'BRT' or demarcated with other markers; signs often indicate lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
nigeria:
Bicycles and motorbikes often share roads with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
nigeria:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ghana:
N/A
nigeria:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
nigeria:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare, mostly manual enforcement |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
ghana:
50 km/h
nigeria:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ghana:
50 km/h
nigeria:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
80 km/h
nigeria:
70 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ghana:
100 km/h
nigeria:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
100 km/h
nigeria:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
nigeria:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
ghana:
Yes
nigeria:
Rare, mostly manual enforcement
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ghana:
Yes
nigeria:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Ghana | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to other road users |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ghana | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Often used to signal presence or warning |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Discouraged at night in residential areas |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | Rare but can apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To indicate overtaking or to warn other drivers |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not for other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common in certain areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English | English; symbols can vary |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ghana:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
nigeria:
Proceed with caution, yield to other road users
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
nigeria:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
ghana:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
nigeria:
Often used to signal presence or warning
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ghana:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
nigeria:
Discouraged at night in residential areas
Horn Usage: Penalties
ghana:
Fines may apply for misuse
nigeria:
Rare but can apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
ghana:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
nigeria:
To indicate overtaking or to warn other drivers
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
ghana:
Not to be used to signal other messages
nigeria:
Not for other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
ghana:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
nigeria:
More common in certain areas
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
nigeria:
English; symbols can vary
Turns
| Ghana | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Generally not allowed unless indicated |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Varies by locality; check for signs |
| Special Turn Lanes | Yes, marked with arrows | Rarely marked |
Right Turn On Red
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
nigeria:
Generally not allowed unless indicated
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
nigeria:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Special Turn Lanes
ghana:
Yes, marked with arrows
nigeria:
Rarely marked
Documentation
| Ghana | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory | Yes, annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on the vehicle |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nigeria:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nigeria:
International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
ghana:
Liability insurance mandatory
nigeria:
Third party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
nigeria:
Yes, annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
nigeria:
Displayed on the vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Discouraged, fines may apply | Discouraged |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Sometimes observed, depending on traffic and location |
| Lane Courtesy: Blocking | Discouraged and may be penalized | Discouraged and can lead to fines |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used, but officially for emergencies |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use, similar to some other countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks, but may not be strictly enforced |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
ghana:
Discouraged, fines may apply
nigeria:
Discouraged
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
ghana:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
nigeria:
Sometimes observed, depending on traffic and location
Lane Courtesy: Blocking
ghana:
Discouraged and may be penalized
nigeria:
Discouraged and can lead to fines
Use Of Horn: Limited
ghana:
Only in emergency situations
nigeria:
Commonly used, but officially for emergencies
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
nigeria:
Frequent use, similar to some other countries
Pedestrians Priority
ghana:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
nigeria:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks, but may not be strictly enforced
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nigeria:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ghana | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Occasional roadblocks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Fines vary across states |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for repeated or severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Likely to result in arrest or fines |
Limits: General Drivers
ghana:
0.08%
nigeria:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ghana:
0.05%
nigeria:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ghana:
0.00%
nigeria:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
nigeria:
Occasional roadblocks
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
nigeria:
Fines vary across states
Enforcement: Imprisonment
ghana:
Possible for severe offenses
nigeria:
Possible for repeated or severe offenses
Test Refusal
ghana:
Can result in license suspension
nigeria:
Likely to result in arrest or fines
Roundabouts
| Ghana | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Priority: Inside | Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly | Maintain lane, avoid abrupt lane changes |
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal appropriately when entering if turning |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits |
Priority: Inside
ghana:
Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly
nigeria:
Maintain lane, avoid abrupt lane changes
Signaling: Entering
ghana:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
nigeria:
Signal appropriately when entering if turning
Signaling: Exiting
ghana:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nigeria:
Signal when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
ghana:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nigeria:
Use for subsequent exits
Emergency Services
| Ghana | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 112 or 199 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | Varies by region; check local contact |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ghana:
191
nigeria:
112 or 199
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
nigeria:
Varies by region; check local contact
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ghana:
Not mandatory, but recommended
nigeria:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Varies; can be heavy fine, often on-the-spot |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; fines and potential jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Moderate fines | Fine for not wearing; enforcement varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | Fines apply; hands-free concept encouraged |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Fines imposed; traffic light cameras in some areas |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Common; usually with cash |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies by offense |
Common Fines: Speeding
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
nigeria:
Varies; can be heavy fine, often on-the-spot
Common Fines: Alcohol
ghana:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
nigeria:
Varies; fines and potential jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
nigeria:
Fine for not wearing; enforcement varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
nigeria:
Fines apply; hands-free concept encouraged
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
nigeria:
Fines imposed; traffic light cameras in some areas
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
nigeria:
Common; usually with cash
Payment: Deadline
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
nigeria:
Varies by offense