Driving in Morocco vs. Philippines: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Morocco and the Philippines, travelers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their driving experience. From speed limits and lane usage to alcohol restrictions and emergency protocols, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safety and compliance while abroad. Explore the key contrasts that define each country's unique roadway culture.
Lanes
| Morocco | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Departure depends on specific roads. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Overtaking: On Right
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Bus Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
philippines:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
philippines:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
morocco:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
morocco:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Morocco | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
morocco:
40-60 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
morocco:
40 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
morocco:
90 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
80 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
120 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
morocco:
100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
morocco:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
morocco:
Yes
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Morocco | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Orange | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Morocco | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
morocco:
Orange
philippines:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
philippines:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Morocco | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
morocco:
Not allowed
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Morocco | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required. | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield. | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
morocco:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Morocco | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Morocco | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: General Drivers
morocco:
0.02%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
morocco:
Common, especially at night
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
morocco:
Substantial
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Emergency Services
| Morocco | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 19 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 19 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
morocco:
19
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
morocco:
19
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Morocco | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and possible license suspension | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible but fines usually paid later | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance