Driving Differences: Senegal vs. United Kingdom
Explore the distinct driving landscapes of Senegal and the United Kingdom, where crucial variations in traffic regulations and road etiquette can significantly impact your journey. From differing speed limits and lane usage to unique signaling practices, understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience on the roads abroad.
Lanes
| Senegal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid White Line | No crossing or lane changes allowed. | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. |
| Markings: Double Solid White Line | No crossing in either direction. | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Near schools |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
senegal:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
senegal:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
senegal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
senegal:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
senegal:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
senegal:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
senegal:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
senegal:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
senegal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
senegal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
senegal:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
senegal:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
senegal:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Senegal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
senegal:
50 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
senegal:
30 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
senegal:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
senegal:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
senegal:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
senegal:
110 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
senegal:
100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
senegal:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
senegal:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
senegal:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
senegal:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
senegal:
Yes
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Senegal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Senegal | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
senegal:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Senegal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not commonly allowed | Not permitted in the UK |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Left turns permitted; use caution |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
senegal:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
senegal:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Senegal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Not displayed; records are electronic |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| 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
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
senegal:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
senegal:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Senegal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
united kingdom:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
united kingdom:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
senegal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Senegal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
senegal:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
senegal:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
senegal:
Can be substantial
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
| Senegal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit |
Signaling: Entering
senegal:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
senegal:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Senegal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 18 or 17 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
senegal:
18 or 17
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
senegal:
17
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
senegal:
Check with your insurance provider
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
senegal:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
senegal:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Senegal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 10,000 CFA | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; significant fines | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; often required immediately | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
senegal:
10,000 CFA
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay