Driving Differences: Ivory Coast vs. Spain Explained
When comparing the road rules of Ivory Coast and Spain, significant distinctions emerge that impact vehicle operation and safety. From bus lane regulations to speed limits and alcohol thresholds, understanding these nuances is crucial for travelers. Stay informed to ensure a secure and compliant experience while navigating foreign roads.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| 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' or 'TAXI'; 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | Minimum two or three occupants |
| 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.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
spain:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
ivory coast:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ivory coast:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 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 | 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. | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ivory coast:
30 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
80 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ivory coast:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Ivory coast | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | Not used in Spain |
| 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 with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
spain:
Not used in Spain
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
spain:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Ivory coast | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Ivory coast | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| 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
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
| 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
spain:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| 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 frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
ivory coast:
0.08%
spain:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ivory coast:
0.04%
spain:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
ivory coast:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, points on license | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, points may apply | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
ivory coast:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay