Driving in Norway vs. Uganda: Key Differences Explained
When it comes to navigating the roads, Norway and Uganda present striking contrasts. From driving on different sides of the road to varying speed limits and road etiquette, understanding these distinctions is crucial for safe travel. Explore the nuances of each nation’s road rules to ensure a smooth journey abroad.
Lanes
| Norway | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not standard in Norway. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; 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 allowed |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
norway:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; 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.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
norway:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
uganda:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Norway | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
norway:
30-50 km/h
uganda:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
90-110 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
norway:
90-100 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
norway:
Yes
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Norway | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Norway | Not used in Uganda |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
norway:
Not used in Norway
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Traffic Signs: Language
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Norway | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
U- Turns Allowed
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Norway | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with a national driving license | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | None | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
norway:
None
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
uganda:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Norway | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in certain situations |
| 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
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Norway | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | High fines and possible license revocation | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
norway:
0.02%
uganda:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
norway:
0.02%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Norway | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 02800 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
norway:
112
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
norway:
02800
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Norway | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 1500 NOK | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 1700 NOK | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, typically required | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
norway:
1500 NOK
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
norway:
1700 NOK
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket