Driving in Ivory Coast vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Ivory Coast and Saudi Arabia, it's essential to recognize their unique regulations and practices. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol policies, significant distinctions emerge. Understanding these variances ensures safer travels, allowing drivers to adapt and comply with local norms effectively.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
ivory coast:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ivory coast:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
ivory coast:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 120 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. | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
ivory coast:
50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ivory coast:
30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Ivory coast | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| 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 | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
saudi arabia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Ivory coast | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Ivory coast | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
ivory coast:
0.08%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ivory coast:
0.04%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
ivory coast:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
ivory coast:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | 993 |
| 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
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, points on license | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, points may apply | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
ivory coast:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay