Driving in India vs. Tanzania: Key Differences for Safety
Explore the distinct driving landscapes of India and Tanzania, where unique regulations and road practices shape the journey. Key contrasts include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol thresholds, emphasizing the importance of adapting to local norms for optimal road safety. Prepare for a safe and informed driving experience in either vibrant country!
Lanes
| India | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
tanzania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
tanzania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
tanzania:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
Speeds Limits
| India | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 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 | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
india:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
tanzania:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| India | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Tanzania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| 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 | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
tanzania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
tanzania:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| India | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Not allowed |
| 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 | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
tanzania:
Not allowed
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
tanzania:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| India | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| India | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Moderate usage 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 left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
tanzania:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
tanzania:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Significant fines apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
tanzania:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
tanzania:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
tanzania:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
tanzania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| India | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay