Driving Differences: Italy vs Tunisia for Safe Travels
Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations between Italy and Tunisia to enhance your travel experience. From lane markings and speed limits to traffic signals and vehicle documentation, understanding these nuances can significantly impact your safety on foreign roads. Prepare for a smooth journey by familiarizing yourself with the unique driving customs of each country.
Lanes
| Italy | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| 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 typically permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
tunisia:
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.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Bus Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
italy:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
italy:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
italy:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Italy | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Italy | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Italy | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Italy | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
italy:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Alcohol
| Italy | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: Underage Drivers
italy:
0.00%
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Emergency Services
| Italy | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
italy:
112
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay