Driving in Switzerland vs. Tanzania: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Switzerland and Tanzania, drivers encounter striking contrasts that impact their travel experience. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and documentation requirements, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a safe journey abroad. Discover the essential driving variances and stay informed while exploring these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Switzerland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used in temporary traffic management. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. | 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
switzerland:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
tanzania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
switzerland:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
switzerland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Switzerland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
switzerland:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
switzerland:
120 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
switzerland:
100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Switzerland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepare to go | Not used in Tanzania |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
switzerland:
Prepare to go
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Traffic Signs: Language
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Switzerland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Switzerland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses | 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 | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
switzerland:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Switzerland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate usage compared to some countries |
| 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
switzerland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Switzerland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police conduct random breath tests | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; fines can be based on income | Significant fines apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
switzerland:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Enforcement: Random Checks
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Test Refusal
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
tanzania:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Switzerland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | No signaling normally required when entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for the first exit or straight | Use for first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
tanzania:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Right
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
tanzania:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Switzerland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 140 | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
switzerland:
117
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
switzerland:
140
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
switzerland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Switzerland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | CHF 60 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | CHF 100 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can be issued on the spot | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
switzerland:
CHF 60
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
switzerland:
CHF 100
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay