Driving Differences: Canada vs. Israel – Stay Safe Abroad
When exploring the roads of Canada and Israel, understanding their unique traffic regulations is vital for a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol consumption thresholds. With Canada allowing right turns on red and Israel enforcing stricter DUI limits, knowing these variances can greatly enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Canada | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that 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 | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
israel:
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.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
israel:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
israel:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 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: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
israel:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
israel:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
israel:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
israel:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
israel:
Yes
Signals
| Canada | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Used before green light. |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
israel:
Used before green light.
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
canada:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Canada | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| Canada | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
israel:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
israel:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Canada | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
canada:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Canada | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
israel:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Emergency Services
| Canada | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | Check local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
canada:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail