Driving in Bolivia vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Bolivia and Sri Lanka, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journeys. Notably, Bolivia adheres to right-hand driving while Sri Lanka drives on the left. Understanding these variations, including speed limits and lane usage, is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable travel experience in each country.
Lanes
| Bolivia | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
bolivia:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bolivia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
bolivia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
sri lanka:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Bolivia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | 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 | Spanish | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
sri lanka:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
bolivia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Bolivia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | 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
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | 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
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bolivia:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bolivia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bolivia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this 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
bolivia:
911
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay