Driving in Spain vs. Uganda: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Spain and Uganda, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. This comparison highlights crucial contrasts, such as driving on different sides of the road, varying speed limits, and unique traffic signals. Understanding these disparities is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Spain | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. | Not allowed |
| 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 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
spain:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
spain:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
spain:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
spain:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
uganda:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
uganda:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
spain:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
spain:
Yes
uganda:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
spain:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Spain | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
spain:
20-30 km/h
uganda:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
spain:
90 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
spain:
80-90 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
spain:
70-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
spain:
120 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
spain:
90 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
spain:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
spain:
Yes, commonly used
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Spain | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Spain | Not used in Uganda |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with white background and red border | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
spain:
Not used in Spain
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Traffic Signs: Language
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Spain | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
uganda:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Spain | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; must carry license. | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspections required. | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield in some areas. | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory. | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory. | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
spain:
Mandatory.
uganda:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
spain:
Mandatory.
uganda:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Spain | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Used more frequently in urgent situations | Frequent use in certain situations |
| 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
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Spain | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe penalties, including high fines | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
spain:
0.05%
uganda:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
spain:
0.03%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
uganda:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Spain | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check with local authorities | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or RACE | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
spain:
112
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
spain:
Check with local authorities
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
spain:
Mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Spain | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines and potential imprisonment | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €200, mandatory use | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €200, points on license | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €200, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; discount if paid promptly. | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
spain:
€200, mandatory use
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
spain:
€200, points on license
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
spain:
€200, points on license
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket