Driving Differences: Mexico vs Uganda Explained
When traversing the roads of Mexico and Uganda, understanding the nuances of their traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring a smooth journey. Key distinctions such as driving on the right versus the left, speed limits, and lane usage play significant roles in promoting road safety. Familiarize yourself with these driving contrasts to navigate both countries confidently.
Lanes
| Mexico | 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 | 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: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| 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: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
mexico:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
mexico:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
mexico:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
mexico:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
uganda:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
uganda:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
mexico:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
uganda:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mexico:
N/A
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
mexico:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mexico:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Mexico | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 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 | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
mexico:
40-60 km/h
uganda:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
mexico:
70-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
mexico:
100-120 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
mexico:
80-100 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mexico:
80-100 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
mexico:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mexico:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Mexico | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mexico | Not used in Uganda |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular signs with red border | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Traffic Signs: Language
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Mexico | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 where not prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
uganda:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Mexico | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
mexico:
Not mandatory
uganda:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Mexico | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | Frequent use in certain situations |
| 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
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
mexico:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Mexico | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
mexico:
0.04%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
mexico:
0.00%
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
mexico:
Can be substantial
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Mexico | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 066 or 911 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
mexico:
911
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
mexico:
066 or 911
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
uganda:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Mexico | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $40 to $200, 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, up to $50, points in some states | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; can lead to significant fines | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; system improvements for online payments | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
mexico:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket