Driving Differences: Morocco vs. Pakistan Explained
When navigating the roads of Morocco and Pakistan, understanding the distinct traffic regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key contrasts include driving on the right in Morocco versus the left in Pakistan, varying speed limits, and different rules surrounding overtaking and alcohol consumption. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances will enhance your travel experience abroad.
Lanes
| Morocco | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Dividing line for different directions; overtaking not allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Prohibited |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, allowed on open roads. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes, in major cities |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Departure depends on specific roads. | Primarily in some urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols on road. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
morocco:
Right
pakistan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
pakistan:
Dividing line for different directions; overtaking not allowed.
Overtaking: On Left
morocco:
Yes
pakistan:
Prohibited
Overtaking: On Right
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
pakistan:
Yes, allowed on open roads.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
pakistan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
pakistan:
Yes, in major cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
pakistan:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
pakistan:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
pakistan:
Primarily in some urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
pakistan:
Bicycle symbols on road.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
morocco:
N/A
pakistan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
pakistan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Morocco | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines can be issued on the spot |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
100 km/h
pakistan:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
morocco:
90 km/h
pakistan:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
80 km/h
pakistan:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
120 km/h
pakistan:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
morocco:
100 km/h
pakistan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
100 km/h
pakistan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
pakistan:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
morocco:
Yes
pakistan:
Yes; fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Morocco | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Orange | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Morocco | Not used |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used in some rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | English and Urdu; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Standard warning signs used |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
morocco:
Orange
pakistan:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
pakistan:
Not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
morocco:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
pakistan:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
Hand Signals: Common Usage
morocco:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
pakistan:
Used in some rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
pakistan:
English and Urdu; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
pakistan:
Standard warning signs used
Turns
| Morocco | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign explicitly allows |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
morocco:
Not allowed
pakistan:
Prohibited unless a sign explicitly allows
U- Turns Allowed
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
pakistan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Morocco | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required. | Varies by province; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield. | Usually not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
pakistan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
pakistan:
Varies by province; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
pakistan:
Usually not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
pakistan:
Not mandatory but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
pakistan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Morocco | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
morocco:
Only in emergency situations
pakistan:
Commonly used in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
pakistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
pakistan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Morocco | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in fines and legal action |
Limits: General Drivers
morocco:
0.02%
pakistan:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
morocco:
Common, especially at night
pakistan:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
morocco:
Substantial
pakistan:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
morocco:
Can result in license suspension
pakistan:
Can result in fines and legal action
Emergency Services
| Morocco | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 19 | 115 (Rescue 1122 for paramedics) |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 19 | 15 for assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Pakistan |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
morocco:
19
pakistan:
115 (Rescue 1122 for paramedics)
Contact: Traffic Police
morocco:
19
pakistan:
15 for assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
pakistan:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Pakistan
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
pakistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
pakistan:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Morocco | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; possible impoundment of vehicle |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Strict penalties, including imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance | Fine if not worn where mandatory |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and possible license suspension | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial | Fines and possible license points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible but fines usually paid later | Yes; fines can be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
pakistan:
Varies; possible impoundment of vehicle
Common Fines: Alcohol
morocco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
pakistan:
Strict penalties, including imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
pakistan:
Fine if not worn where mandatory
Common Fines: Phone Use
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
pakistan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
pakistan:
Fines and possible license points
Payment: On The Spot
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
pakistan:
Yes; fines can be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
pakistan:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay