Driving in Madagascar vs. Peru: A Safety Comparison
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for maintaining safety. In this comparison, we explore the driving landscape in Madagascar and Peru, highlighting significant contrasts. From lane usage to speed limits and emergency protocols, each country offers unique insights that are crucial for a secure driving experience.
Lanes
| Madagascar | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Typically not used. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Stay to the right lane when possible. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Available mainly in urban areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved mostly for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be marked clearly in major cities. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Sparse | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles unless marked. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes, when possible. | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are fixed. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
madagascar:
Typically not used.
peru:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
peru:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
peru:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
peru:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
peru:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
peru:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
madagascar:
Sparse
peru:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
peru:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
madagascar:
N/A
peru:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
madagascar:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
peru:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
peru:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Madagascar | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, particularly in urban areas. | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common. | Common; often collected by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
madagascar:
50 km/h
peru:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
madagascar:
50 km/h
peru:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
peru:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
peru:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
peru:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
madagascar:
Not applicable
peru:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
peru:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
madagascar:
Yes, common.
peru:
Common; often collected by traffic police
Signals
| Madagascar | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Peru |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | May apply for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French and Malagasy | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular signs with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
madagascar:
Amber
peru:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
madagascar:
Not commonly used
peru:
Not used in Peru
Horn Usage: Allowed
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
peru:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
peru:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
peru:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
peru:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
peru:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
peru:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
peru:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Madagascar | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless specified otherwise | Only at intersections without signs prohibiting |
Right Turn On Red
madagascar:
Prohibited
peru:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
peru:
Only at intersections without signs prohibiting
Documentation
| Madagascar | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for all vehicles | Mandatory, proof is required during checks |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Indication may vary | Typically displayed on vehicle |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
peru:
Mandatory, proof is required during checks
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
madagascar:
Indication may vary
peru:
Typically displayed on vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Madagascar | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Use is more frequent in urban areas | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Significantly used for communication with other drivers | Often used more compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
peru:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
peru:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
peru:
Often used more compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
peru:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
peru:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Madagascar | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in urban areas | Common; checkpoints used widely |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Results in penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
madagascar:
0.08%
peru:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
madagascar:
0.08%
peru:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
madagascar:
0.02%
peru:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
peru:
Common; checkpoints used widely
Enforcement: Fines
madagascar:
Can be substantial
peru:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
madagascar:
Results in penalties
peru:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Madagascar | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Not commonly practiced | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
peru:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
peru:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Madagascar | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 117 | 105 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Could vary; commonly police contact | Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider, public services might be limited | Check with your insurance provider or local service |
Contact: General Emergency
madagascar:
117
peru:
105
Contact: Traffic Police
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
peru:
Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines
Contact: Roadside Assistance
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
peru:
Check with your insurance provider or local service
Penalties And Fines
| Madagascar | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-use | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use while driving | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Monetary fines applied | Fines apply, often substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common for minor offenses | Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Determined by issuing authority | Varies; typically a few days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
peru:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
peru:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Phone Use
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
peru:
Fines apply, often substantial
Payment: On The Spot
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
peru:
Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately
Payment: Deadline
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority
peru:
Varies; typically a few days to pay