Driving Differences: Mozambique vs. Spain Uncovered
When it comes to navigating the roads of Mozambique and Spain, distinct contrasts emerge in regulations and practices. From lane usage—where Mozambique drives on the left to Spain's right—to varying speed limits and alcohol tolerances, understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either country. Discover key distinctions that can enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Mozambique | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 unless on a one-way street. |
| 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' 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 colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
mozambique:
Left
spain:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
spain:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
mozambique:
Not allowed.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
spain:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
spain:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
spain:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
spain:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mozambique:
N/A
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
mozambique:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Mozambique | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 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 | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
mozambique:
60 km/h
spain:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
mozambique:
40 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
mozambique:
80 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
mozambique:
80 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
mozambique:
80 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mozambique:
100 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
mozambique:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
mozambique:
Yes
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Mozambique | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mozambique | Not used in Spain |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
spain:
Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Language
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Mozambique | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Mozambique | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory. |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory. |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mozambique:
Annually
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mozambique:
Displayed on windshield
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
mozambique:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mozambique:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Mozambique | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
| 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
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
mozambique:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Mozambique | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.06% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially in urban areas | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
mozambique:
0.06%
spain:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
mozambique:
0.02%
spain:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
mozambique:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Mozambique | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 121 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
Contact: General Emergency
mozambique:
119
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
mozambique:
121
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Penalties And Fines
| Mozambique | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid on the spot | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| 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
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
mozambique:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mozambique:
Fines apply
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
mozambique:
Fines apply
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay