Driving in Mozambique vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and habits between Mozambique and Thailand. From speed limits to lane usage, significant variations emerge, such as Mozambique's absence of bus lanes compared to Thailand's dedicated routes. Understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring a secure journey while navigating foreign landscapes.
Lanes
| Mozambique | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centers the road for no-passing zones. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Prohibited |
| 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
thailand:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
mozambique:
Not allowed.
thailand:
Prohibited
Bus Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
thailand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
mozambique:
No
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mozambique:
N/A
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mozambique:
N/A
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mozambique:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Mozambique | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
mozambique:
60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
mozambique:
40 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
mozambique:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
mozambique:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
mozambique:
120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
mozambique:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mozambique:
100 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mozambique:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Mozambique | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mozambique | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Mozambique | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. | Not 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.
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Mozambique | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mozambique:
Annually
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mozambique:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
mozambique:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mozambique:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Mozambique | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
mozambique:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
mozambique:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Mozambique | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
mozambique:
0.06%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
mozambique:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
mozambique:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Mozambique | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
mozambique:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
mozambique:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Mozambique | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 121 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
mozambique:
119
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
mozambique:
121
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
mozambique:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
mozambique:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Mozambique | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid on the spot | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
mozambique:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mozambique:
Fines apply
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
mozambique:
Fines apply
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days