Driving in Norway vs. Tanzania: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Norway and Tanzania, travelers will encounter significant contrasts in traffic rules and regulations. From driving sides and lane markings to speed limits and alcohol regulations, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Discover how these diverse driving environments create unique challenges for motorists in each country.
Lanes
| Norway | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not standard in Norway. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
norway:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
tanzania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
norway:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
tanzania:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
tanzania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Norway | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
norway:
30-50 km/h
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
norway:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
90-110 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
norway:
90-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
tanzania:
N/A
Signals
| Norway | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Norway | Not used in Tanzania |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
norway:
Not used in Norway
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Traffic Signs: Language
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Norway | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Norway | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with a national driving license | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | None | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
norway:
None
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Norway | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate usage compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Norway | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | High fines and possible license revocation | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
norway:
0.02%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
norway:
0.02%
tanzania:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| Norway | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 02800 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
norway:
02800
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Norway | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 1500 NOK | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 1700 NOK | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, typically required | Common |
Common Fines: Speeding
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
norway:
1500 NOK
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
norway:
1700 NOK
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
tanzania:
Common