Driving in Argentina vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences
Discover the unique driving conditions in Argentina and Sri Lanka with our detailed comparison. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and road etiquette, each country has its distinct regulations. Understanding these disparities is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable travel experience while navigating their roads.
Lanes
| Argentina | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | 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 |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
argentina:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
argentina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
argentina:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Argentina | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
argentina:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Argentina | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Argentina | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | 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
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Argentina | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
argentina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot