Driving Safety: Ivory Coast vs. Uganda Insights
When navigating the roads of Ivory Coast and Uganda, understanding the distinct driving regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring safety. Key differences include driving on the right in Ivory Coast versus the left in Uganda, as well as varying speed limits and lane usage rules. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts will enhance your travel experience and promote road safety.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| 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: Usage | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| 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 | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
ivory coast:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ivory coast:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ivory coast:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ivory coast:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
uganda:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ivory coast:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
uganda:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ivory coast:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 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: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for some infractions. | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
90 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ivory coast:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Ivory coast | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | Not used in Uganda |
| 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 | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
uganda:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Ivory coast | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
uganda:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Ivory coast | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
uganda:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 in certain situations |
| 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
uganda:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
ivory coast:
0.04%
uganda:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
uganda:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, points may apply | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
ivory coast:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket