Driving Differences: Armenia vs. United Kingdom Safety Tips
Exploring the nuances of road regulations in Armenia and the United Kingdom reveals striking contrasts in driving practices. While Armenians steer on the right, UK motorists adhere to left-side navigation. Additionally, speed limits and lane usage differ significantly, affecting overall travel safety. Understanding these variations is essential for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Armenia | 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 | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | 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 | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
armenia:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
armenia:
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
armenia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
armenia:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
armenia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
armenia:
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]
armenia:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
armenia:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
armenia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
armenia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
armenia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
armenia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
armenia:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
armenia:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
armenia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Armenia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | Common | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
armenia:
40-60 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
armenia:
20 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
armenia:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
armenia:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
armenia:
70 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
armenia:
110 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
armenia:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
armenia:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
armenia:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
armenia:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
armenia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
armenia:
Common
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Armenia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Armenia | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Armenian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
armenia:
Not used in Armenia
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
armenia:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
armenia:
Unnecessary use discouraged
united kingdom:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
armenia:
Armenian; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
armenia:
Triangular-shaped with red border
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Armenia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | 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 | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
armenia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
armenia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
armenia:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
armenia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Armenia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Not displayed; records are electronic |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
armenia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
armenia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
armenia:
Annual inspection required
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
armenia:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
armenia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
armenia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Armenia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
armenia:
Pull over and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Armenia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
armenia:
0.04%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
armenia:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
armenia:
Common
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
armenia:
Varies; can be substantial
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
| Armenia | 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
armenia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
armenia:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Armenia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
armenia:
911
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
armenia:
104
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
armenia:
Check with your insurance provider
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
armenia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
armenia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Armenia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines and points on license | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applied | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied, points on license | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
armenia:
Varies; fines and points on license
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
armenia:
Varies; fines apply
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
armenia:
Fines applied
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
armenia:
Fines applied, points on license
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
armenia:
Common
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
armenia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay