Driving Differences: Canada vs Greece for Safe Travel
Discover the crucial distinctions in vehicular regulations and practices between Canada and Greece. While both nations emphasize road safety, their rules on speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol consumption diverge significantly. Familiarizing yourself with these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and compliant driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Canada | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not applicable |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
greece:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
greece:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
greece:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
greece:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
greece:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
greece:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
greece:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
greece:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
greece:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
greece:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
greece:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
greece:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
greece:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
greece:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
greece:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
greece:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
greece:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Canada | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in Greece |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Greek and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
greece:
Not used in Greece
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
canada:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Canada | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
greece:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Canada | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
greece:
International Driving Permit required
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
greece:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
greece:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
greece:
Mandatory
Alcohol
| Canada | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; police may set up roadblocks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
greece:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
greece:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
canada:
Can result in license suspension
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
Emergency Services
| Canada | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | 10400 for ELPA assistance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
greece:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
greece:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
greece:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
greece:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | €350, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | €350, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 10 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
greece:
€350, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
greece:
€100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
greece:
€350, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay