Driving Differences: Morocco vs United Kingdom Uncovered
Discover the vital contrasts in road regulations and practices between Morocco and the United Kingdom. This comprehensive comparison highlights crucial aspects such as driving sides, speed limits, and traffic signals. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in foreign territories.
Lanes
Morocco | United kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Driving Side | Right | Left |
Markings: Solid White Line | No crossing or lane changes allowed. | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. |
Markings: Double Solid White Line | No crossing in either direction. | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. |
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. |
Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Near schools |
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 and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
Cycle Lanes: Usage | Departure depends on specific roads. | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. |
Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
morocco:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
morocco:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
morocco:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
morocco:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
morocco:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
united kingdom:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
united kingdom:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
morocco:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
morocco:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
Morocco | United kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30 mph |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 60 mph |
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 50 mph |
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50 mph |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 70 mph |
Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 60 mph |
Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 60 mph |
Speed Units | km/h | mph |
Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
morocco:
40-60 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
morocco:
40 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
morocco:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
120 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
morocco:
100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
morocco:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
morocco:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
morocco:
Yes
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
Morocco | United kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Orange | Amber |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Morocco | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
morocco:
Orange
united kingdom:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
morocco:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
Morocco | United kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not permitted in the UK |
Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Left turns permitted; use caution |
Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. |
U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
morocco:
Not allowed
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
morocco:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
morocco:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
Morocco | United kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required. | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield. | Not displayed; records are electronic |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
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
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
Morocco | United kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
united kingdom:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
Morocco | United kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
morocco:
0.02%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
morocco:
Common, especially at night
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
morocco:
Substantial
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
Morocco | United kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight |
Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit |
Signaling: Entering
morocco:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
morocco:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
Morocco | United kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Contact: General Emergency | 19 | 999 or 112 |
Contact: Traffic Police | 19 | 999 or 112 |
Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
morocco:
19
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
morocco:
19
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
Morocco | United kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance | £100 fine |
Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and possible license suspension | £200 and 6 penalty points |
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
Payment: On The Spot | Possible but fines usually paid later | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay