Driving Differences: Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts between driving in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, where road etiquette, speed regulations, and lane usage vary significantly. From bus lanes and alcohol limits to emergency contact numbers, understanding these driving nuances is essential for ensuring a secure travel experience. Navigate your journey abroad with confidence and awareness.
Lanes
| Bangladesh | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on some roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used to indicate a centerline; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed. | Allowed when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in major cities | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles generally use the edge of the road. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bangladesh:
Marks the right edge on some roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bangladesh:
Often used to indicate a centerline; passing permitted when safe.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
bangladesh:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bangladesh:
Generally not allowed.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bangladesh:
Yes, in major cities
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bangladesh:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bangladesh:
Often marked with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bangladesh:
Bicycles generally use the edge of the road.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bangladesh:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bangladesh:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bangladesh:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Bangladesh | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major areas | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
bangladesh:
25-50 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bangladesh:
50-70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bangladesh:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bangladesh:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bangladesh:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bangladesh:
Yes, in major areas
sri lanka:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bangladesh:
Yes, common practice
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Bangladesh | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bangladesh | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bengali; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
bangladesh:
Proceed with caution, yield to other vehicles
sri lanka:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bangladesh:
Not used in Bangladesh
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bangladesh:
Unnecessary use discouraged
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
bangladesh:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
bangladesh:
Bengali; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bangladesh:
Triangular-shaped with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Bangladesh | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not commonly permitted | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bangladesh:
Not commonly permitted
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bangladesh:
Varies by area; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bangladesh | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually, proof displayed on vehicle | Yes, proof required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bangladesh:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bangladesh:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bangladesh:
Annually, proof displayed on vehicle
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Road Etiquette
| Bangladesh | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bangladesh:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bangladesh | 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 |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in checkpoints | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by offense | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bangladesh:
Common in checkpoints
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bangladesh:
Substantial, varies by offense
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bangladesh | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 9999 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 119 or contact local police |
Contact: General Emergency
bangladesh:
9999
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
bangladesh:
Contact local police
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Penalties And Fines
| Bangladesh | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can include fines and points | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable, varies by enforcement | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, varies by enforcement | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies depending on the severity of the violation | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | More common than in the USA | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate resolution preferred | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bangladesh:
Varies; can include fines and points
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
bangladesh:
Substantial fines, possible imprisonment
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bangladesh:
Fines applicable, varies by enforcement
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
bangladesh:
Fines apply, varies by enforcement
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bangladesh:
Varies depending on the severity of the violation
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
bangladesh:
More common than in the USA
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
bangladesh:
Varies; typically immediate resolution preferred
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay