Driving in Monaco vs. Norway: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Monaco and Norway. From lane markings to speed limits, each country presents unique traffic norms that influence safety on the road. Notably, Norway emphasizes strict bus lane usage and variable speed limits, while Monaco boasts more relaxed overtaking rules. Understanding these distinctions is essential for secure driving abroad.
Lanes
| Monaco | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited, mostly on main roads | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Predominantly for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled ‘BUS’. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with small vehicles or buses. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Right
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Bus Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
norway:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited
norway:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
norway:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
monaco:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
monaco:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
monaco:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Monaco | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | N/A | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | N/A | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common for traffic violations | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
monaco:
50 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
norway:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
monaco:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
norway:
Yes
Signals
| Monaco | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Rare in Monaco, usually not used | Not used in Norway |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
norway:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
norway:
Not used in Norway
Traffic Signs: Language
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Monaco | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted where indicated; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
monaco:
Prohibited
norway:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Monaco | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually; proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle windshield | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Monaco | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by severity | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
monaco:
0.05%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
monaco:
0.00%
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Emergency Services
| Monaco | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 18 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Local police also available on 911 using GSM | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through service providers or insurance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
monaco:
112 or 18
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Monaco | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine applies if not used | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Substantial fines issued | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | High fines, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; varies | Yes, typically required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be settled soon | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
monaco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
monaco:
High fines, points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
monaco:
Possible; varies
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay