Driving in Senegal vs Tanzania: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the diverse driving landscapes of Senegal and Tanzania reveals intriguing contrasts in road regulations and practices. Key distinctions include driving sides—right in Senegal and left in Tanzania—and speed limits that vary by locale. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure travel experience in both nations.
Lanes
| Senegal | 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 | 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: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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. |
Driving Side
senegal:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
senegal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
senegal:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
senegal:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
senegal:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
senegal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
Speeds Limits
| Senegal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 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 |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
senegal:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
senegal:
90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
senegal:
110 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
senegal:
100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
senegal:
90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Signals
| Senegal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Senegal | Not used in Tanzania |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Traffic Signs: Language
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Senegal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not commonly allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Senegal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Senegal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate usage 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
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
tanzania:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
senegal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Senegal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
senegal:
0.00%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
senegal:
0.00%
tanzania:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
senegal:
Can be substantial
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| Senegal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 18 or 17 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 | 112 |
Contact: General Emergency
senegal:
18 or 17
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
senegal:
17
tanzania:
112
Penalties And Fines
| Senegal | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 10,000 CFA | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; significant fines | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; often required immediately | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
senegal:
10,000 CFA
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay