Driving in Norway vs. Tunisia: Key Safety Differences
Discover the distinct driving cultures of Norway and Tunisia through our detailed comparison. While Norway emphasizes strict lane regulations and lower speed limits, Tunisia allows for higher speeds and different traffic etiquette. This guide highlights essential contrasts to ensure a safer driving experience abroad, no matter where your journey takes you.
Lanes
| Norway | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not standard in Norway. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. | Not typically permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
tunisia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Bus Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
norway:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
tunisia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Norway | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 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
tunisia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
norway:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
90-110 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
norway:
90-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
tunisia:
N/A
Signals
| Norway | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Norway | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places | Arabic and French; 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
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Norway | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
norway:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Norway | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with a national driving license | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | None | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
norway:
None
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Norway | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
norway:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Alcohol
| Norway | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | High fines and possible license revocation | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: General Drivers
norway:
0.02%
tunisia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
norway:
0.02%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Emergency Services
| Norway | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 02800 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
norway:
112
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
norway:
02800
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Norway | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 1500 NOK | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 1700 NOK | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, typically required | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Alcohol
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
tunisia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
norway:
1500 NOK
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
norway:
1700 NOK
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay