Driving in Morocco vs. Qatar: Key Safety Differences
Discover the diverse road regulations and driving customs of Morocco and Qatar. While both countries enforce speed limits and traffic signs, notable contrasts emerge in lane usage, alcohol limits, and penalties. This comparison aims to enhance your travel safety and ensure a smooth driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Morocco | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Departure depends on specific roads. | Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| 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.
qatar:
Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
qatar:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
qatar:
Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
qatar:
Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
qatar:
Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
qatar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
morocco:
N/A
qatar:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
morocco:
No
qatar:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
qatar:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Morocco | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Urban Areas: Standard
morocco:
40-60 km/h
qatar:
60-80 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
morocco:
40 km/h
qatar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
100 km/h
qatar:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
morocco:
90 km/h
qatar:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
100 km/h
qatar:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
morocco:
No
qatar:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
qatar:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Morocco | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Orange | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Morocco | Not used in Qatar |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
morocco:
Orange
qatar:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
qatar:
Not used in Qatar
Traffic Signs: Language
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
qatar:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
qatar:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Morocco | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
morocco:
Not allowed
qatar:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
qatar:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Morocco | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield. | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
qatar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
qatar:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
qatar:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Morocco | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
qatar:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
qatar:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Morocco | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Can be substantial; penalties are severe |
Limits: General Drivers
morocco:
0.02%
qatar:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
morocco:
Common, especially at night
qatar:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
morocco:
Substantial
qatar:
Can be substantial; penalties are severe
Emergency Services
| Morocco | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 19 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 19 | 999 or local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or contact private services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
morocco:
19
qatar:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
morocco:
19
qatar:
999 or local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
qatar:
Check with your insurance provider or contact private services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Morocco | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial, point system applies |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance | Minimum 500 QR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and possible license suspension | Minimum 500 QR, point system applies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial | Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible but fines usually paid later | Yes, or online payment options |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties |
Common Fines: Speeding
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
qatar:
Varies; can be substantial, point system applies
Common Fines: Alcohol
morocco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
qatar:
Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR
Common Fines: Phone Use
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR, point system applies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
qatar:
Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies
Payment: On The Spot
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
qatar:
Yes, or online payment options
Payment: Deadline
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
qatar:
Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties