Driving in Portugal vs. Tanzania: Key Differences Explored
When exploring the roads of Portugal and Tanzania, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experience. Key differences include the side of the road used for navigation, speed limits, and lane usage protocols. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad and adapting to local driving customs.
Lanes
| Portugal | 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 | Prohibited. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
portugal:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
portugal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
portugal:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
portugal:
Prohibited.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
portugal:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
portugal:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Portugal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
portugal:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
70 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
120 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
portugal:
100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
portugal:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
portugal:
Possible
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Portugal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Portugal | Not used in Tanzania |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Traffic Signs: Language
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Portugal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
portugal:
Prohibited
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Portugal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permit required | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Portugal | 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
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Portugal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
portugal:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
tanzania:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| Portugal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local authorities | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACP | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: Traffic Police
portugal:
Contact local authorities
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Portugal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €120 to €600 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €240 to €1,200 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €120 to €600 | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible | Common |
Common Fines: Speeding
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
portugal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
portugal:
€120 to €600
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
portugal:
€120 to €600
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
portugal:
Possible
tanzania:
Common