Driving in Mexico vs. Tanzania: Key Safety Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road rules is essential for a safe journey. This comparison between Mexico and Tanzania highlights significant variations, such as driving on opposite sides and distinct speed limits. By exploring these disparities, travelers can better navigate the roads and ensure their safety while enjoying their adventures.
Lanes
| Mexico | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| 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 'DART'; 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 dedicated lanes. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
mexico:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
mexico:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
mexico:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
mexico:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
tanzania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mexico:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mexico:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Mexico | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 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
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
mexico:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
mexico:
70-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
mexico:
100-120 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
mexico:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mexico:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mexico:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Mexico | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mexico | Not used in Tanzania |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular signs with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Traffic Signs: Language
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Mexico | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Mexico | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on 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
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
mexico:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mexico:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Mexico | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | Moderate usage compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
mexico:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Mexico | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Significant fines apply |
Limits: Professional Drivers
mexico:
0.04%
tanzania:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
mexico:
Can be substantial
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| Mexico | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 066 or 911 | 112 |
| 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
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
mexico:
066 or 911
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Mexico | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, up to $50, points in some states | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; can lead to significant fines | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; system improvements for online payments | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
mexico:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay