Driving Differences: Senegal vs. South Africa Explained
Driving in Senegal and South Africa presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should be aware of. From varying speed limits and lane usage to differences in alcohol tolerance, understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure experience on the roads. Discover the key distinctions that can impact your journey in these two diverse nations.
Lanes
| Senegal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
Driving Side
senegal:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
senegal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
senegal:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
senegal:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
senegal:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
senegal:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Speeds Limits
| Senegal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
senegal:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
senegal:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
senegal:
90 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
senegal:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
senegal:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
senegal:
110 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
senegal:
100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
senegal:
90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
senegal:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Senegal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Senegal | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Senegal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not commonly allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Senegal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
senegal:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Senegal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| 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
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
south africa:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
senegal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Senegal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: General Drivers
senegal:
0.00%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
senegal:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
senegal:
Can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
senegal:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Senegal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
senegal:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Senegal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 18 or 17 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
senegal:
18 or 17
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
senegal:
17
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
senegal:
Check with your insurance provider
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
senegal:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Senegal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 10,000 CFA | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; significant fines | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; often required immediately | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
senegal:
10,000 CFA
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay