Driving Differences: Azerbaijan vs Sri Lanka
When exploring the roads of Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka, drivers will encounter notable distinctions in traffic regulations, lane usage, and speed limits. These variations play a crucial role in ensuring safe navigation abroad. Understanding whether to drive on the right or left side can significantly impact road safety in these two diverse nations.
Lanes
| Azerbaijan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the center on undivided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | In some cases, such as if the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved primarily for buses and sometimes other public transport vehicles. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked by road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Mainly in major cities and occasionally shared with bus lanes. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Often designated for buses and public transport. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
azerbaijan:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
azerbaijan:
Marks the center on undivided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
azerbaijan:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
azerbaijan:
In some cases, such as if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
azerbaijan:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
azerbaijan:
Reserved primarily for buses and sometimes other public transport vehicles.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
azerbaijan:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked by road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
azerbaijan:
Limited
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
azerbaijan:
Mainly in major cities and occasionally shared with bus lanes.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
azerbaijan:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
azerbaijan:
Limited
sri lanka:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
azerbaijan:
Often designated for buses and public transport.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
azerbaijan:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
azerbaijan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Azerbaijan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common practice; fines can also be mailed. | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
azerbaijan:
40-60 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
azerbaijan:
20 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
azerbaijan:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
azerbaijan:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
azerbaijan:
Common practice; fines can also be mailed.
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Azerbaijan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Azerbaijan | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Azerbaijani; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
azerbaijan:
Not used in Azerbaijan
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
azerbaijan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
azerbaijan:
Azerbaijani; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
azerbaijan:
Triangle-shaped with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Azerbaijan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed, unless a green arrow is shown | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
azerbaijan:
Generally not allowed, unless a green arrow is shown
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
azerbaijan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Azerbaijan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual technical inspection required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided upon successful inspection | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
azerbaijan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
azerbaijan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
azerbaijan:
Annual technical inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
azerbaijan:
Provided upon successful inspection
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Azerbaijan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
azerbaijan:
Moderate use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
azerbaijan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Azerbaijan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Occasional; fines and penalties apply | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
Limits: General Drivers
azerbaijan:
0.03%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
azerbaijan:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
azerbaijan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
azerbaijan:
Occasional; fines and penalties apply
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Roundabouts
| Azerbaijan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
azerbaijan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Azerbaijan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 102 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Call your insurance provider or local service | 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
azerbaijan:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
azerbaijan:
102
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
azerbaijan:
Call your insurance provider or local service
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Azerbaijan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be significant depending on excess speed | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Significant fines | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Significant fines, possible license points | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; and fines can also be paid online or by mail | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
azerbaijan:
Varies; can be significant depending on excess speed
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
azerbaijan:
Significant fines
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
azerbaijan:
Significant fines, possible license points
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
azerbaijan:
Significant fines, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
azerbaijan:
Possible; and fines can also be paid online or by mail
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot