Driving Differences: Afghanistan vs United Kingdom
When exploring the diverse road regulations of Afghanistan and the United Kingdom, drivers must navigate distinct legal frameworks and safety protocols. Key differences include driving on opposite sides of the road, varying speed limits, and unique lane markings. Understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a secure and compliant journey in foreign territories.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid White Line | No crossing or lane changes allowed. | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. |
| Markings: Double Solid White Line | No crossing in either direction. | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Near schools |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
afghanistan:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
afghanistan:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
afghanistan:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
afghanistan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
afghanistan:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
afghanistan:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
united kingdom:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| 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 | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
afghanistan:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Afghanistan | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
afghanistan:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Afghanistan | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Not permitted in the UK |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Left turns permitted; use caution |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
afghanistan:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
afghanistan:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Afghanistan | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not displayed; records are electronic |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
afghanistan:
Displayed on windshield
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
united kingdom:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
afghanistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
| Afghanistan | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit |
Signaling: Entering
afghanistan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
afghanistan:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
Contact: General Emergency
afghanistan:
112
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| 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 | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| 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 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
united kingdom:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay