Driving in Israel vs Madagascar: Key Differences Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Israel and Madagascar. From lane markings to speed limits, each country showcases unique driving practices. For instance, while Israel employs variable speed limits and strict overtaking rules, Madagascar's guidelines favor simpler signage and shared bike lanes. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Israel | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically not used. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits are fixed. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
israel:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
israel:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
madagascar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
israel:
30 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
israel:
80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
madagascar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
israel:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
israel:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Israel | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | 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 use prohibited; local ordinances 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 | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
israel:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
israel:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
israel:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
israel:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Israel | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Israel | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
israel:
Displayed on windshield
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Israel | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
israel:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
israel:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
israel:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
israel:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
israel:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Israel | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
israel:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Israel | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority