Driving in Italy vs. Madagascar: Key Differences Explained
Driving in Italy and Madagascar reveals intriguing contrasts that are crucial for ensuring safety on the roads. From lane markings and speed regulations to the nuances of signaling and pedestrian rights, understanding these variations can enhance your travel experience. Familiarizing yourself with each country's unique rules is essential for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Italy | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Typically not used. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead 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
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
madagascar:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
italy:
Exclusive for bicycles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
italy:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
italy:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
madagascar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Italy | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
italy:
30 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
italy:
80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
madagascar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
italy:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Italy | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | 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 discouraged; local ordinances may 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 | Italian; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
italy:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
italy:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
italy:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
italy:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
italy:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Italy | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Italy | 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 with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Italy | 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 | Less frequent 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
italy:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
italy:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
italy:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Italy | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
italy:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
italy:
0.00%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
italy:
0.00%
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
italy:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Italy | 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
italy:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
italy:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Italy | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
italy:
112
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
italy:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority