Driving Differences: India vs Tunisia for Safe Travel
When comparing the roads of India and Tunisia, distinct variations in traffic regulations and driving norms emerge. From the contrasting sides of the road each country adheres to—left in India and right in Tunisia—to different speed limits and lane usage practices, understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Explore these pivotal distinctions to navigate safely and confidently.
Lanes
| India | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Not typically permitted. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
india:
Left
tunisia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
tunisia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| India | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 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 | 90 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
tunisia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
tunisia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| India | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not typically used |
| 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 | Arabic and French; 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
tunisia:
Not typically used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
tunisia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
tunisia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| India | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
tunisia:
Prohibited
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
tunisia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| India | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| India | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| 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 use |
| 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 right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
india:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
tunisia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
tunisia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Substantial; varies by offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
tunisia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
tunisia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
tunisia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
tunisia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| India | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Yes |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
tunisia:
Yes