Driving Differences: Afghanistan vs. Russia Revealed
When navigating the roads of Afghanistan and Russia, understanding their distinctive traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. This comparison reveals significant contrasts, such as the use of dedicated lanes, speed limits, and enforcement of alcohol limits, all of which play a vital role in promoting road security in these diverse nations.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
russia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
russia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
russia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
russia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
russia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Yes; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
russia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| Afghanistan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not used in Russia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | Russian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
russia:
Not used in Russia
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
russia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Afghanistan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
afghanistan:
Displayed on windshield
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
russia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
russia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.035% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, especially in cities |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
russia:
0.035%
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
russia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; substantial fines |
| 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 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
russia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay