Driving in Mozambique vs. Portugal: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Mozambique and Portugal, it's crucial to understand their unique regulations and practices. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and vehicle protocols, these nations exhibit distinctive approaches to road usage. Familiarizing yourself with these disparities can significantly enhance your travel safety and enjoyment while abroad.
Lanes
| Mozambique | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centers the road for no-passing zones. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; 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: 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
portugal:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
portugal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
mozambique:
Not allowed.
portugal:
Prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
portugal:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
portugal:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mozambique:
N/A
portugal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
mozambique:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Mozambique | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 90 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 | Possible |
Urban Areas: Standard
mozambique:
60 km/h
portugal:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
mozambique:
40 km/h
portugal:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
mozambique:
80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
mozambique:
80 km/h
portugal:
70 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mozambique:
100 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
mozambique:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
mozambique:
Yes
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Mozambique | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mozambique | Not used in Portugal |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Traffic Signs: Warning
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Mozambique | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Mozambique | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mozambique:
Annually
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mozambique:
Displayed on windshield
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Mozambique | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Mozambique | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, especially during holidays |
Limits: General Drivers
mozambique:
0.06%
portugal:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Emergency Services
| Mozambique | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 121 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
Contact: General Emergency
mozambique:
119
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
mozambique:
121
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Penalties And Fines
| Mozambique | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid on the spot | Possible |
| 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
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mozambique:
Fines apply
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
mozambique:
Fines apply
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
portugal:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay