Driving in Albania vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
When venturing into the realms of Albania and Sri Lanka, understanding their unique traffic regulations is essential for a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Albania versus the left in Sri Lanka, varying speed limits, and diverse rules regarding overtaking and road etiquette. Equip yourself with this vital knowledge for safer travels abroad!
Lanes
| Albania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
albania:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
albania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
albania:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
albania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
albania:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
albania:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
albania:
N/A
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
albania:
N/A
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
albania:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
albania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
albania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Albania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be paid at the scene. | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
albania:
40 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
albania:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
110 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
albania:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
albania:
Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Albania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Albania | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
albania:
Not used in Albania
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
albania:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
albania:
Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
albania:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Albania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
albania:
Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
albania:
Varies by locality; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Albania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
albania:
Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
albania:
Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
albania:
Mandatory; proof required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Albania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | 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 |
Flashing Lights: Usage
albania:
To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake
sri lanka:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
albania:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
albania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Albania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.01% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for violations | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
albania:
0.01%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
albania:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
albania:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
albania:
Common, especially during holidays
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
albania:
Substantial fines for violations
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Albania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
albania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Albania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 129 | 119 or contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
albania:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
albania:
129
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Albania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines over 1,000 ALL | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; potential fines and penalties | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines over 5,000 ALL | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
albania:
Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
albania:
Fines over 1,000 ALL
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
albania:
Varies; potential fines and penalties
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
albania:
Fines over 5,000 ALL
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
albania:
Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
albania:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay