Driving in Ivory Coast vs. Portugal: Key Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Ivory Coast and Portugal. From lane usage rules to speed limits and documentation requirements, each nation presents unique driving customs. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring safety and compliance while navigating unfamiliar territories. Buckle up and get ready for a comprehensive comparison!
Lanes
| Ivory coast | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
portugal:
Prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
portugal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ivory coast:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 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 | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for some infractions. | Possible |
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
portugal:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
portugal:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
portugal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ivory coast:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Ivory coast | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | Not used in Portugal |
| 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 | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
portugal:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Ivory coast | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Ivory coast | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| 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
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
portugal:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, especially during holidays |
Limits: General Drivers
ivory coast:
0.08%
portugal:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ivory coast:
0.04%
portugal:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, points on license | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, points may apply | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
portugal:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay