Driving in Russia vs. Tanzania: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roadways of Russia and Tanzania, drivers encounter striking contrasts in regulations and customs. From the side of the road you drive on to speed limits and overtaking rules, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring safe travels. This comparison highlights each country's unique driving practices, enhancing your confidence behind the wheel abroad.
Lanes
| Russia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | 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 with specific road signs or markings. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
russia:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
russia:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
russia:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Russia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 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 | Yes; but fines are also mailed | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
russia:
60 km/h
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
russia:
20 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
russia:
90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
russia:
90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
russia:
70-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
russia:
110 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
russia:
90-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
russia:
90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
russia:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Russia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Russia | Not used in Tanzania |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Russian; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
russia:
Not used in Russia
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Traffic Signs: Language
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Turns
| Russia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Russia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Usually indicated in vehicle documents | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
russia:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Russia | 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
russia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Russia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.035% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially in cities | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
russia:
0.035%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
russia:
0.00%
tanzania:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
russia:
Common, especially in cities
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| Russia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers; 113 is common | 112 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
tanzania:
112
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
russia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Russia | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points in the record | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
russia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Phone Use
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
russia:
Fines apply
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay