Driving in Ivory Coast vs. Senegal: Key Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Ivory Coast and Senegal, notable variations emerge in speed limits, lane usage, and traffic etiquette. While both nations prioritize vehicle inspection and pedestrian rights, Senegal adopts stricter alcohol limits and emergency protocols. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring safe travels in either country.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| 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: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
senegal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
senegal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
senegal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
senegal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for some infractions. | Yes |
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
senegal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
senegal:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
senegal:
Yes
Signals
| Ivory coast | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | Not used in Senegal |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
senegal:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Ivory coast | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not commonly allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Ivory coast | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| 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
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
senegal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
senegal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| 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
senegal:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
ivory coast:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
senegal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
ivory coast:
0.08%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ivory coast:
0.04%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
senegal:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 18 or 17 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | 17 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
senegal:
18 or 17
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
senegal:
17
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, points on license | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, points may apply | 10,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | Varies; significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Yes; often required immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
senegal:
10,000 CFA
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days