POOR Road conditions in Senegal range from adequate to poor. Travelers should remain on the major hard-Surfaced routes and drive only during daylight hours. Paved roads link most major cities but are often in poor repair. Drivers should anticipate stretches of potholes and other obstacles. Rural roads range from well-maintained dirt and gravel routes to sand tracks.
Traffic accidents are a leading cause of injury and death in Senegal.
Visitors who drive should take the time to learn local traffic rules and drive defensively. Air Afrique operates direct commercial service from Dakar to New York three times a week. Every summer, the Embassy receives reports of travelers, including U.S. citizens, who are denied boarding due to overbooking on their scheduled Air Afrique flights back to the United States. We recommend that travelers on Air Afrique flights during June through September make flexible travel plans, particularly if they are traveling on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses.