Driving in India vs. Madagascar: Key Safety Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the driving practices in countries like India and Madagascar is vital for a secure journey. This comparison reveals notable contrasts: India drives on the left while Madagascar adheres to the right, urban speed limits vary significantly, and horn usage also differs greatly. Stay informed and drive safely!
Lanes
| India | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically not used. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are fixed. |
Driving Side
india:
Left
madagascar:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
madagascar:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
india:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| India | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
india:
30 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| India | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
india:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
india:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
india:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| India | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Prohibited |
| 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 | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
madagascar:
Prohibited
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
madagascar:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| India | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| India | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
india:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| India | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| India | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority