Driving Differences: Ghana vs. Uganda Explained
When navigating the roads of Ghana and Uganda, understanding the distinct driving regulations and practices is essential for a secure journey. Key contrasts include driving sides, speed limits, and the use of bus lanes, all influencing your experience behind the wheel. Familiarizing yourself with these variations ensures safer travels in both nations.
Lanes
| Ghana | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not advised. | Not allowed |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
ghana:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ghana:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ghana:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ghana:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
uganda:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
uganda:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
uganda:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
uganda:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ghana:
N/A
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ghana:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ghana:
50 km/h
uganda:
30 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ghana:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ghana:
Yes
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Ghana | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ghana | Not used in Uganda |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ghana:
Triangular with red border
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Ghana | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
uganda:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Ghana | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in certain situations |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ghana | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
ghana:
0.00%
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Ghana | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
Contact: General Emergency
ghana:
191
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ghana:
Check with your insurance provider
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Moderate fines | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
ghana:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket