Driving in Afghanistan vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
Discover the driving contrasts between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka to enhance your travel safety. While Afghanistan follows right-side driving, Sri Lanka opts for the left. Key distinctions include speed limits, traffic regulations, and signaling practices—critical knowledge for any traveler navigating these diverse roadways. Stay informed and drive cautiously abroad.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
afghanistan:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
afghanistan:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
afghanistan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
afghanistan:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Afghanistan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
afghanistan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Afghanistan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Yes, proof required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
afghanistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Afghanistan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
afghanistan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
afghanistan:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; expect 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 applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay