Driving in India vs. Ivory Coast: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of India and Ivory Coast, understanding their distinct traffic regulations is essential for safe navigation. Key contrasts include driving on the left in India versus the right in Ivory Coast, as well as different speed limits and overtaking rules. Familiarizing yourself with these variances will enhance your driving experience and promote safety abroad.
Lanes
| India | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
india:
Left
ivory coast:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
ivory coast:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
ivory coast:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
ivory coast:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
ivory coast:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| India | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Yes, for some infractions. |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
ivory coast:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
ivory coast:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
ivory coast:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
Signals
| India | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Ivory Coast |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
ivory coast:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Headlight Flash: Usage
india:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
ivory coast:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
Turns
| India | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
ivory coast:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| India | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| India | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
india:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
ivory coast:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
ivory coast:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
ivory coast:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
ivory coast:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
ivory coast:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
ivory coast:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
ivory coast:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 170 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
ivory coast:
170
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
ivory coast:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| India | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; fines may apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Varies, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines may apply, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Fines may apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Possible for some infractions |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically stipulated |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated