Driving in Saudi Arabia vs. Tunisia: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, understanding the distinct regulations and practices is essential for a safe driving experience. From speed limits to lane etiquette, both nations exhibit unique driving customs. Notably, Saudi Arabia allows right-side overtaking, while Tunisia enforces stricter rules. Explore these contrasts to ensure your journey remains secure and compliant.
Lanes
| Saudi arabia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typically permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Bus Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
Yes
tunisia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Saudi arabia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120-140 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
tunisia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Saudi arabia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Saudi Arabia | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Turns
| Saudi arabia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Saudi arabia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspection required | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Saudi arabia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use for communication on the road | Moderate use |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
saudi arabia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
tunisia:
Moderate use
Alcohol
| Saudi arabia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, random checkpoints are used | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; possible imprisonment | Substantial; varies by offense |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Frequent for offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
tunisia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Enforcement: Imprisonment
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
tunisia:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
tunisia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Saudi arabia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | 197 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
saudi arabia:
999
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
saudi arabia:
993
tunisia:
197
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Saudi arabia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Alcohol
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
tunisia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay