Driving in Mozambique vs. Switzerland: Key Differences
When exploring the contrasting road rules between Mozambique and Switzerland, drivers will encounter significant variations in regulations and practices. From the driving side—left in Mozambique versus right in Switzerland—to distinct speed limits and traffic signals, understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring safe travel abroad.
Lanes
| Mozambique | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centers the road for no-passing zones. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
mozambique:
Left
switzerland:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
mozambique:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right
mozambique:
Not allowed.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
switzerland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
switzerland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mozambique:
N/A
switzerland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
mozambique:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Mozambique | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
mozambique:
60 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
mozambique:
40 km/h
switzerland:
30 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mozambique:
100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
mozambique:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
mozambique:
Yes
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| Mozambique | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mozambique | Prepare to go |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Mozambique | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Mozambique | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mozambique:
Annually
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mozambique:
Displayed on windshield
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mozambique:
Mandatory
switzerland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Mozambique | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Mozambique | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.06% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially in urban areas | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
mozambique:
0.06%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
mozambique:
0.02%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
switzerland:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
mozambique:
Can result in license suspension
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Mozambique | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
mozambique:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right
mozambique:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Mozambique | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 121 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
mozambique:
119
switzerland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
mozambique:
121
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mozambique:
Mandatory
switzerland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Mozambique | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | CHF 100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid on the spot | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mozambique:
Fines apply
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
mozambique:
Fines apply
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay