Driving in Greece vs Uganda: Key Safety Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the unique driving regulations is essential for a safe journey. This comparison between Greece and Uganda highlights significant contrasts, such as driving on opposite sides of the road and varying speed limits. These distinctions not only affect road etiquette but also emphasize the importance of adapting to local rules for a secure experience.
Lanes
| Greece | 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 | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
greece:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
greece:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
greece:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
greece:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
greece:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
greece:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
greece:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Greece | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
90 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Greece | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Not used in Uganda |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
greece:
Not used in Greece
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
uganda:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Greece | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
U- Turns Allowed
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Greece | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
greece:
International Driving Permit required
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Greece | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less 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
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Greece | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
greece:
0.05%
uganda:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
uganda:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Greece | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
greece:
112
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license | 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 | €350, points on license | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €350, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
greece:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket