Driving in Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique: Key Differences
The driving landscapes of Ivory Coast and Mozambique present intriguing contrasts that every traveler should be aware of. From the distinct sides of the road—right in Ivory Coast and left in Mozambique—to varying speed limits and regulations regarding overtaking, understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring safe journeys across these fascinating nations.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Centers the road for no-passing zones. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically 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, but limited in urban areas. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
ivory coast:
Right
mozambique:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ivory coast:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
Overtaking: On Right
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
mozambique:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ivory coast:
Use rightmost lane.
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ivory coast:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
mozambique:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ivory coast:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
mozambique:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
mozambique:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
mozambique:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for some infractions. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
ivory coast:
50 km/h
mozambique:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ivory coast:
30 km/h
mozambique:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
90 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
mozambique:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
mozambique:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
mozambique:
Yes
Signals
| Ivory coast | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | Not used in Mozambique |
| 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 | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
mozambique:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Ivory coast | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Ivory coast | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annually |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
mozambique:
Annually
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
mozambique:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
mozambique:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
mozambique:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
mozambique:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
mozambique:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, especially in urban areas |
Limits: General Drivers
ivory coast:
0.08%
mozambique:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ivory coast:
0.04%
mozambique:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | 121 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
mozambique:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
mozambique:
121
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
mozambique:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
mozambique:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, points on license | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, points may apply | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Common; fines often paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,