Driving in Morocco vs. South Africa: Key Differences
When venturing into new territories, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a secure journey. This comparison between Morocco and South Africa reveals significant variations, such as driving on opposite sides and differing speed limits. Grasping these distinctions ensures a safer driving experience in each unique environment.
Lanes
| Morocco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Departure depends on specific roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
Driving Side
morocco:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
morocco:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
morocco:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
south africa:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
south africa:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
south africa:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Speeds Limits
| Morocco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common in South Africa |
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
morocco:
90 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
morocco:
100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
100 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
morocco:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Morocco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Orange | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Morocco | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
morocco:
Orange
south africa:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Morocco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
U- Turns Allowed
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Morocco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required. | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield. | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
morocco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Morocco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Morocco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: General Drivers
morocco:
0.02%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
morocco:
Common, especially at night
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
morocco:
Substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
morocco:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Morocco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
morocco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Morocco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 19 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 19 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
morocco:
19
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
morocco:
19
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Morocco | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and possible license suspension | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible but fines usually paid later | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay