Driving in Israel vs. Tanzania: Key Safety Differences
Embarking on a journey in Israel or Tanzania? Understanding the contrasting traffic norms is essential for a secure driving experience. From lane usage—where Israel favors right-hand driving while Tanzania adheres to the left—to distinct speed limits and signaling practices, each country offers unique regulations that can impact your travels significantly.
Lanes
| Israel | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
israel:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
israel:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
israel:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
israel:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
tanzania:
N/A
Signals
| Israel | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in Tanzania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
tanzania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Israel | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Israel | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Required annually |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
tanzania:
Required annually
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | Moderate usage compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
israel:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
tanzania:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| Israel | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Common |
Common Fines: Speeding
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
tanzania:
Common