Driving Safety: Mozambique vs. Norway's Unique Rules
When exploring the roadways of Mozambique and Norway, drivers encounter a stark contrast in regulations and practices. From the left-side driving in Mozambique to Norway's right-side norms, each country has distinct speed limits, lane usage rules, and alcohol tolerance levels. Understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Mozambique | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centers the road for no-passing zones. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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 colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
mozambique:
Left
norway:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
mozambique:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Right
mozambique:
Not allowed.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
norway:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
norway:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
norway:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mozambique:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
mozambique:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Mozambique | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 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
mozambique:
60 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
mozambique:
40 km/h
norway:
30 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
mozambique:
120 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
mozambique:
100 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mozambique:
100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
mozambique:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Mozambique | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mozambique | Not used in Norway |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
norway:
Not used in Norway
Traffic Signs: Language
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Mozambique | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
norway:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Mozambique | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mozambique:
Annually
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mozambique:
Displayed on windshield
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mozambique:
Mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Mozambique | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Mozambique | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.06% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially in urban areas | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
mozambique:
0.06%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Emergency Services
| Mozambique | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 121 | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
mozambique:
119
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
mozambique:
121
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mozambique:
Mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Mozambique | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid on the spot | Yes, typically required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
mozambique:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mozambique:
Fines apply
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
mozambique:
Fines apply
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay