Driving in Belize vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
As you prepare for your journey from Belize to Sri Lanka, it's vital to understand the contrasting driving regulations and practices in these two nations. With Belize driving on the right and Sri Lanka on the left, as well as varying speed limits and traffic signals, ensuring your safety on the road requires awareness and adaptation. Discover the essential distinctions to navigate confidently.
Lanes
| Belize | 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
belize:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belize:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
belize:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belize:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belize:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Belize | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-55 mph | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-55 mph | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-55 mph | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-65 mph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 55-65 mph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 55-65 mph | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines are usually collected immediately | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
belize:
25 mph
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belize:
25 mph
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
40-55 mph
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belize:
40-55 mph
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
40-55 mph
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
55-65 mph
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belize:
55-65 mph
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
55-65 mph
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Speed Units
belize:
mph
sri lanka:
km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belize:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belize:
Yes, fines are usually collected immediately
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Belize | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Belize | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; 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
belize:
Not used in Belize
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
belize:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
belize:
English; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belize:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Belize | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
belize:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belize:
Varies by locality; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Belize | 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 | Mandatory annually; proof may be required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belize:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belize:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belize:
Mandatory annually; proof may be required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belize:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Belize | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent 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
belize:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belize:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belize | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used occasionally | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
belize:
0.08%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belize:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belize:
Zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belize:
Less common; checkpoints used occasionally
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
belize:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Belize | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
belize:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Belize | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
belize:
911
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
belize:
911
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belize:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Belize | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; BZD$100 to $500 | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; significant fines | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, fines are often collected immediately | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
belize:
Varies; BZD$100 to $500
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belize:
Fines for non-compliance
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
belize:
Fines for use without hands-free
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belize:
Varies; significant fines
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
belize:
Yes, fines are often collected immediately
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot