Driving in Tanzania vs Uganda: Key Safety Insights
As you prepare for your journey through Tanzania and Uganda, understanding the nuances of their road regulations is essential. Key distinctions include overtaking practices and speed limits, with Tanzania allowing right-side overtaking, while Uganda prohibits it. Additionally, both nations enforce strict alcohol limits. Familiarizing yourself with these variations can significantly enhance your travel safety and experience.
Lanes
| Tanzania | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right 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 Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not allowed |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
tanzania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
tanzania:
No
uganda:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
tanzania:
Yes
uganda:
Not allowed
Bus Lanes: Markings
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
uganda:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
tanzania:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
tanzania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
uganda:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
tanzania:
N/A
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
tanzania:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
tanzania:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Tanzania | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
uganda:
30 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
tanzania:
80 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
tanzania:
80 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
tanzania:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
tanzania:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
tanzania:
Yes
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Tanzania | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Tanzania | Not used in Uganda |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Swahili; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Traffic Signs: Language
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Tanzania | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
U- Turns Allowed
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Tanzania | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
tanzania:
Required annually
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
tanzania:
Mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Tanzania | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate usage compared to some countries | Frequent use in certain situations |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Alcohol
| Tanzania | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Significant fines apply | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
tanzania:
0.00%
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
tanzania:
Common
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Tanzania | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
tanzania:
112
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
tanzania:
112
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
tanzania:
Mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Tanzania | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties can be severe | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Penalties enforced | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
tanzania:
Fines apply
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
tanzania:
Fines apply
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
tanzania:
Common
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket