Bahrain vs Sri Lanka: Essential Driving Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads in Bahrain and Sri Lanka, understanding their unique traffic regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides—right in Bahrain and left in Sri Lanka—as well as varied speed limits and overtaking rules. Familiarizing yourself with these variations can greatly enhance your travel experience.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Allowed when safe. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, but limited. | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | 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
bahrain:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
bahrain:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
sri lanka:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahrain:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahrain:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 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 | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Bahrain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Used as a signal of road rage or aggression | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
sri lanka:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
sri lanka:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
sri lanka:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bahrain:
Used as a signal of road rage or aggression
sri lanka:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
bahrain:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Bahrain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn 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
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahrain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during nighttime | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
sri lanka:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Bahrain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahrain:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay