Driving Differences: Lebanon vs Madagascar Explained
Discover the unique road rules and regulations that define driving experiences in Lebanon and Madagascar. From varying speed limits and lane usage to distinct signaling practices, this comparison reveals essential insights for ensuring safe travel. Understanding these contrasts will empower you to navigate confidently in either country, promoting a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Lebanon | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Typically used to mark out zones where parking is prohibited. | Typically not used. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used as a separation line in some areas. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are fixed. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
lebanon:
Typically used to mark out zones where parking is prohibited.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
lebanon:
Used as a separation line in some areas.
madagascar:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
lebanon:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
lebanon:
Use rightmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
lebanon:
No
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
lebanon:
N/A
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
lebanon:
N/A
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
lebanon:
No
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
lebanon:
N/A
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
lebanon:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
lebanon:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
lebanon:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
lebanon:
N/A
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Lebanon | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
lebanon:
40-50 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
lebanon:
30-40 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
lebanon:
80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
lebanon:
N/A
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
lebanon:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
lebanon:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Lebanon | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Lebanon | Not commonly used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Avoid unnecessary use in urban areas | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
lebanon:
Not used in Lebanon
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
lebanon:
Signal when entering and exiting
madagascar:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
lebanon:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
lebanon:
Avoid unnecessary use in urban areas
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
lebanon:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
lebanon:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
lebanon:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
lebanon:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
lebanon:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Lebanon | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
lebanon:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
lebanon:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Lebanon | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
lebanon:
International Driving Permit required
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
lebanon:
Yes, annual inspection required
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
lebanon:
Displayed on windshield
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lebanon:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Lebanon | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Horn usage is more frequent compared to some countries | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
lebanon:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
lebanon:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
lebanon:
Horn usage is more frequent compared to some countries
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
lebanon:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
lebanon:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Lebanon | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common through checkpoints | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for violations | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
lebanon:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
lebanon:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
lebanon:
0.00%; zero tolerance
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
lebanon:
Common through checkpoints
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
lebanon:
Substantial for violations
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
lebanon:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Lebanon | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when preparing to enter | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
lebanon:
Signal when preparing to enter
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
lebanon:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Lebanon | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies; consult your insurance provider | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
lebanon:
112
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
lebanon:
112
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
lebanon:
Varies; consult your insurance provider
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lebanon:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Lebanon | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may lead to substantial fines | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Fines and potential incarceration | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory for all passengers | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed for mobile use without hands-free | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; often paid at stations | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Usually within 15-30 days | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
lebanon:
Varies; may lead to substantial fines
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
lebanon:
Fines and potential incarceration
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
lebanon:
Mandatory for all passengers
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
lebanon:
Fines imposed for mobile use without hands-free
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
lebanon:
Substantial fines
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
lebanon:
Possible; often paid at stations
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
lebanon:
Usually within 15-30 days
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority