Driving in Mozambique vs. Netherlands: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Mozambique and the Netherlands, different regulations and practices come into play that significantly impact travel safety. From driving sides to speed limits, these two nations present unique contrasts. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure and informed driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Mozambique | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centers the road for no-passing zones. | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
mozambique:
Left
netherlands:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
mozambique:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
Overtaking: On Right
mozambique:
Not allowed.
netherlands:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
netherlands:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
netherlands:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
netherlands:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mozambique:
N/A
netherlands:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
mozambique:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Mozambique | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-100 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 | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
mozambique:
60 km/h
netherlands:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
mozambique:
40 km/h
netherlands:
30 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
mozambique:
120 km/h
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
mozambique:
100 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mozambique:
100 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
mozambique:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
mozambique:
Yes
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
Signals
| Mozambique | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mozambique | Not used in Netherlands |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Dutch; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
Traffic Signs: Language
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
netherlands:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Mozambique | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs |
Right Turn On Red
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
U- Turns Allowed
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
Documentation
| Mozambique | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually | Periodic technical inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mozambique:
Annually
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mozambique:
Displayed on windshield
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mozambique:
Mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Mozambique | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
mozambique:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
netherlands:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Mozambique | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.06% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially in urban areas | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
mozambique:
0.06%
netherlands:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
netherlands:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| Mozambique | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signal required unless exiting immediately |
Signaling: Entering
mozambique:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
Emergency Services
| Mozambique | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 121 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
mozambique:
119
netherlands:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
mozambique:
121
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mozambique:
Mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Mozambique | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; can be significant, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid on the spot | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, | Varies; payment within specified period required |
Common Fines: Speeding
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mozambique:
Fines apply
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
mozambique:
Fines apply
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required