Driving in Ivory Coast vs. Mexico: Key Safety Differences
Explore the diverse driving cultures of Ivory Coast and Mexico in our comprehensive comparison. Discover key distinctions such as speed limits, road etiquette, and traffic regulations that ensure safe navigation. Whether you're traversing urban landscapes or rural routes, understanding these variations is essential for a secure experience behind the wheel.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
mexico:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
mexico:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for some infractions. | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas |
Urban Areas: Standard
ivory coast:
50 km/h
mexico:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
90 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
mexico:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
mexico:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
mexico:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
Signals
| Ivory coast | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | Not used in Mexico |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular signs with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
mexico:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
Turns
| Ivory coast | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited |
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
Documentation
| Ivory coast | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
mexico:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
mexico:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
mexico:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
mexico:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | 066 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' |
Contact: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
mexico:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
mexico:
066 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, points on license | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, points may apply | Varies, up to $50, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | Varies; can lead to significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; system improvements for online payments |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments