Driving Differences: Switzerland vs. Uganda Explained
Embarking on a journey through Switzerland and Uganda reveals striking contrasts in driving regulations and road customs. From the distinct sides of the road to varying speed limits and traffic signals, understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring safety abroad. Discover how these two nations prioritize road etiquette and compliance to enhance your travel experience.
Lanes
| Switzerland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used in temporary traffic management. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. | Not allowed |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | 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
switzerland:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
switzerland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
switzerland:
N/A
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Switzerland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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, drivers can be fined on the spot. | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
uganda:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
switzerland:
120 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
switzerland:
80 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Switzerland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepare to go | Not used in Uganda |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a red border | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
switzerland:
Prepare to go
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Traffic Signs: Language
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Switzerland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by sign | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
uganda:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Switzerland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Road Etiquette
| Switzerland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | 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
switzerland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Switzerland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police conduct random breath tests | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; fines can be based on income | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
switzerland:
0.05%
uganda:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
switzerland:
0.00%
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
uganda:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Switzerland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
uganda:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Right
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
uganda:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Switzerland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 140 | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
Contact: General Emergency
switzerland:
112
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
switzerland:
117
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
switzerland:
140
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Penalties And Fines
| Switzerland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | CHF 60 | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | CHF 100 | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can be issued on the spot | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
switzerland:
CHF 60
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
switzerland:
CHF 100
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket