Driving Differences: Tunisia vs. United Kingdom
Explore the intriguing contrasts in driving regulations between Tunisia and the United Kingdom. From lane usage to speed limits, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safe travels abroad. Notably, Tunisia drives on the right side, while the UK adheres to the left, highlighting significant cultural distinctions in road etiquette and traffic management.
Lanes
| Tunisia | 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 | Not typically permitted. | 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | 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
tunisia:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
tunisia:
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
tunisia:
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
tunisia:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
tunisia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
tunisia:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
tunisia:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
tunisia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
tunisia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
tunisia:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
tunisia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
tunisia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
tunisia:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
tunisia:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
tunisia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Tunisia | 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 | 90 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 | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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
tunisia:
50 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
tunisia:
30 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
tunisia:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
tunisia:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
tunisia:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
tunisia:
110 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
tunisia:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
tunisia:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
tunisia:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
tunisia:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
tunisia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
tunisia:
Yes
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Tunisia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not typically used | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
tunisia:
Not typically used
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
tunisia:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Tunisia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | 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 otherwise posted | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
tunisia:
Prohibited
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
tunisia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
tunisia:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Tunisia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not displayed; records are electronic |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Road Etiquette
| Tunisia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
united kingdom:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
tunisia:
Moderate use
united kingdom:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Tunisia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used broadly | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
tunisia:
0.05%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
tunisia:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
| Tunisia | 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
tunisia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
tunisia:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Tunisia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 197 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 197 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
Contact: General Emergency
tunisia:
197
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
tunisia:
197
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Penalties And Fines
| Tunisia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | DT 40 | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | DT 60 | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
tunisia:
DT 40
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
tunisia:
DT 60
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
tunisia:
Yes
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay