Driving in Mozambique vs. Senegal: Key Safety Tips
When exploring the roads of Mozambique and Senegal, understanding the key distinctions in their driving regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key differences include driving on the left in Mozambique versus the right in Senegal, varying speed limits, and unique traffic rules. Equip yourself with this knowledge to ensure a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Mozambique | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 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' 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
mozambique:
Left
senegal:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
senegal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
mozambique:
Not allowed.
senegal:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
senegal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
senegal:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
senegal:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
senegal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
senegal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mozambique:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Mozambique | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
mozambique:
60 km/h
senegal:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
mozambique:
40 km/h
senegal:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
mozambique:
80 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
mozambique:
120 km/h
senegal:
110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mozambique:
100 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Signals
| Mozambique | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mozambique | Not used in Senegal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
Traffic Signs: Language
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Mozambique | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. | Not commonly allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
U- Turns Allowed
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Mozambique | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mozambique:
Annually
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mozambique:
Displayed on windshield
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Road Etiquette
| Mozambique | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
mozambique:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
mozambique:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
mozambique:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
senegal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Mozambique | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.06% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| 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 | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
mozambique:
0.06%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
mozambique:
0.02%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
senegal:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Mozambique | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 18 or 17 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 121 | 17 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
mozambique:
119
senegal:
18 or 17
Contact: Traffic Police
mozambique:
121
senegal:
17
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
senegal:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Mozambique | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | 10,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Varies; significant fines |
| 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; often required immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mozambique:
Fines apply
senegal:
10,000 CFA
Common Fines: Phone Use
mozambique:
Fines apply
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
Payment: Deadline
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days