Driving Differences: Israel vs. Uganda for Safe Travels
Driving in Israel and Uganda presents unique challenges and regulations that travelers should be aware of. From differing traffic rules—such as driving on the right in Israel versus the left in Uganda—to variable speed limits and road etiquette, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a safe journey. Navigate your way through these insights for a smoother ride abroad.
Lanes
| Israel | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. | Not allowed |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
israel:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
israel:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
israel:
Yes
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Israel | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in Uganda |
| 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; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
uganda:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Israel | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
uganda:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Israel | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
israel:
Displayed on windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
uganda:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | Frequent use in certain situations |
| 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
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
israel:
0.05%
uganda:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Israel | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket