Driving in Morocco vs Portugal: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the roads of Morocco and Portugal, understanding the nuances of each country's regulations is crucial for a secure journey. This comparison highlights significant variations, including lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol restrictions, ensuring that travelers are well-prepared to navigate safely and confidently in different driving environments.
Lanes
| Morocco | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Departure depends on specific roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
portugal:
Prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
portugal:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
portugal:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
morocco:
N/A
portugal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
morocco:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Morocco | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Possible |
Urban Areas: Standard
morocco:
40-60 km/h
portugal:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
morocco:
40 km/h
portugal:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
100 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
morocco:
90 km/h
portugal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
80 km/h
portugal:
70 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
100 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
morocco:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
morocco:
Yes
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Morocco | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Orange | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Morocco | Not used in Portugal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
morocco:
Orange
portugal:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Traffic Signs: Language
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Morocco | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
morocco:
Not allowed
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Morocco | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required. | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield. | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
morocco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Morocco | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Morocco | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
morocco:
0.02%
portugal:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
portugal:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
morocco:
Common, especially at night
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
morocco:
Substantial
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Morocco | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 19 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 19 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
Contact: General Emergency
morocco:
19
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
morocco:
19
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Penalties And Fines
| Morocco | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and possible license suspension | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible but fines usually paid later | Possible |
Common Fines: Speeding
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
portugal:
Possible