Driving Differences: Mexico vs. Senegal Safety Tips
When traveling abroad, understanding the distinct regulations and practices of local roads is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. This comparison between Mexico and Senegal reveals notable contrasts, from speed limits to lane designations. For instance, while Mexico allows right turns on red, Senegal does not commonly permit this maneuver. Explore further to enhance your driving awareness in these two vibrant nations.
Lanes
| Mexico | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Usage
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
senegal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
senegal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mexico:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mexico:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Mexico | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 110 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 | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
mexico:
40-60 km/h
senegal:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
mexico:
80 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
mexico:
70-80 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
mexico:
100-120 km/h
senegal:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
mexico:
80-100 km/h
senegal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mexico:
80-100 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mexico:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
senegal:
Yes
Signals
| Mexico | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mexico | Not used in Senegal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular signs with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
Traffic Signs: Language
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Mexico | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not commonly allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
U- Turns Allowed
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Mexico | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
mexico:
Not mandatory
senegal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mexico:
Not mandatory
senegal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Mexico | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
mexico:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Alcohol
| Mexico | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
Limits: General Drivers
mexico:
0.08%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
mexico:
0.04%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
mexico:
0.00%
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Emergency Services
| Mexico | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 18 or 17 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 066 or 911 | 17 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
mexico:
911
senegal:
18 or 17
Contact: Traffic Police
mexico:
066 or 911
senegal:
17
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
senegal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Mexico | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, up to $50, points in some states | 10,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; can lead to significant fines | Varies; significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred | Yes; often required immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; system improvements for online payments | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
senegal:
10,000 CFA
Common Fines: Phone Use
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
Payment: Deadline
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days