Driving in Portugal vs. Uganda: Key Differences Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and practices between Portugal and Uganda. While Portugal adopts right-hand driving with distinct lane markings and speed limits, Uganda follows left-side navigation with unique enforcement protocols. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and informed journey in either country.
Lanes
| Portugal | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited. | Not allowed |
| 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 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
portugal:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
portugal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
portugal:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
portugal:
Prohibited.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
uganda:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
uganda:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
portugal:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
portugal:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Portugal | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | Possible | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
90 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
70 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
120 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
90 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
portugal:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
portugal:
Possible
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Portugal | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Portugal | Not used in Uganda |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Traffic Signs: Language
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Portugal | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
portugal:
Prohibited
uganda:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Portugal | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permit required | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
portugal:
Mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Portugal | 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
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Portugal | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
portugal:
0.05%
uganda:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Portugal | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACP | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
portugal:
112
uganda:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
portugal:
Mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Portugal | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €120 to €600 | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €240 to €1,200 | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €120 to €600 | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
portugal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
portugal:
€120 to €600
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
portugal:
€120 to €600
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
portugal:
Possible
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket