Driving in Afghanistan vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and safety measures between Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. While both countries have unique traffic norms, notable distinctions arise in speed limits, lane markings, and enforcement of penalties. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
saudi arabia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Afghanistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | Arabic; 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
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Afghanistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
afghanistan:
Displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
afghanistan:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
afghanistan:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
afghanistan:
112
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay