Driving Safely: Afghanistan vs. Cyprus Road Rules
When exploring the roadways of Afghanistan and Cyprus, it's essential to recognize their distinct driving regulations and practices. From the side of the road used to speed limits and traffic signals, these countries present varying challenges. Understanding these contrasts not only enhances your experience abroad but also ensures a safer journey on unfamiliar routes.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Usually reserved for public transport. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
afghanistan:
Right
cyprus:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
Overtaking: On Right
afghanistan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
cyprus:
Prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
afghanistan:
Use rightmost lane.
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
cyprus:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
cyprus:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
cyprus:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
cyprus:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
cyprus:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
cyprus:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
cyprus:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
cyprus:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
cyprus:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
cyprus:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
cyprus:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
cyprus:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
cyprus:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
cyprus:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
cyprus:
Yes
Signals
| Afghanistan | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not used in Cyprus |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | Greek and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
afghanistan:
Signal when exiting
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Afghanistan | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
cyprus:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits without additional permits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
afghanistan:
Displayed on windshield
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
cyprus:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
cyprus:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
afghanistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used routinely |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Substantial and strict |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
cyprus:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
cyprus:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
cyprus:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
Roundabouts
| Afghanistan | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately |
Signaling: Entering
afghanistan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
cyprus:
Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
cyprus:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
cyprus:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | Strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | Strict enforcement, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | Substantial fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
cyprus:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay