Driving in the Philippines vs. Tanzania: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of the Philippines versus Tanzania, drivers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their travel experience. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol regulations and emergency protocols, understanding these key contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Discover the vital driving distinctions that could affect your safety on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Philippines | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| 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 occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
Driving Side
philippines:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
philippines:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
tanzania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
philippines:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
philippines:
Yes
tanzania:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
tanzania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Philippines | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 kph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 kph | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 kph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 kph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Less common; fines are usually issued later | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
philippines:
40 kph
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
philippines:
20 kph
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
80 kph
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
philippines:
70 kph
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
50 kph
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
100 kph
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
philippines:
80 kph
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
80 kph
tanzania:
80 km/h
Speed Units
philippines:
kph
tanzania:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Philippines | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Tanzania |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Filipino; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
philippines:
Not used
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Traffic Signs: Language
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Philippines | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Philippines | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Insurance | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed | Required annually |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Insurance
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
tanzania:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
tanzania:
Required annually
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Philippines | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users | 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
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Philippines | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| Philippines | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AAA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
philippines:
911
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
philippines:
117
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Philippines | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | PHP 300 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | PHP 1000 | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
philippines:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
philippines:
PHP 300
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
philippines:
PHP 1000
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay