Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Eritrea

Everything a visitor needs before driving in Eritrea — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

right

Driving Side

steering wheel on the left

0.05

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

—

Motorway Limit

no motorway class

required

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

—

Rural / Open Road

—

Motorway / Highway

—

Note: Commercial drivers 0.03.

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in Eritrea

General limit: 0.05 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in Eritrea can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Eritrea on the Live Map

Eritrea has a WHO-estimated 25.3 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Eritrea.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Eritrea's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

Djibouti Ethiopia Yemen Sudan Saudi Arabia South Sudan

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Eritrea drive on?

Eritrea drives on the right-hand side of the road (like most of the world).

What is the drink-driving limit in Eritrea?

The general limit is 0.05 g/dL BAC. Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Eritrea?

Yes — an IDP (or a locally issued permit) is required or strongly enforced for foreign visitors driving in Eritrea. Get one in your home country before you travel.

Is it safe to drive in Eritrea?

By the numbers, Eritrea has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 25.3 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is well above the global average, so extra care is needed — it ranks 34 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the right. Visitors need an International Driving Permit. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.