Driving in Canada vs. Maldives: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Canada and the Maldives, understanding their distinct travel regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key variations include driving sides—right in Canada and left in the Maldives—as well as contrasting speed limits and lane usage practices. Familiarize yourself with these essential differences to ensure a smooth driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Canada | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Yes, when safe and legal. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | May be designated with road signs or markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Minimal |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | Usually not specifically marked in many areas. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
canada:
Right
maldives:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
maldives:
Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
maldives:
Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives.
Overtaking: On Left
canada:
Yes
maldives:
No
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
maldives:
Yes, when safe and legal.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
maldives:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
maldives:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
maldives:
Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
maldives:
May be designated with road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
maldives:
Minimal
Cycle Lanes: Usage
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
maldives:
Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
maldives:
Usually not specifically marked in many areas.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
maldives:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
maldives:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
maldives:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
maldives:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 25 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: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | Not applicable |
| 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 | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
maldives:
30 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
maldives:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
maldives:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
maldives:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
maldives:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
maldives:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
maldives:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
maldives:
Common
Signals
| Canada | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not commonly used in Maldives |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Country-specific shapes and colors |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
maldives:
Not commonly used in Maldives
Horn Usage: Allowed
canada:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
maldives:
Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
maldives:
Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
maldives:
Country-specific shapes and colors
Turns
| Canada | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Not allowed unless signed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated |
| Special Turn Lanes | Yes, marked with arrows | Limited, mainly at main intersections |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
maldives:
Not allowed unless signed
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
maldives:
Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated
Special Turn Lanes
canada:
Yes, marked with arrows
maldives:
Limited, mainly at main intersections
Documentation
| Canada | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Usually displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
maldives:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
maldives:
Periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
maldives:
Usually displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
canada:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
maldives:
Common practice
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
maldives:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Canada | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Less common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
maldives:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
maldives:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
maldives:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
maldives:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
maldives:
Fines can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Canada | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Appropriate lanes as per signage |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Appropriate lanes as per signage |
Lane Usage: Right
canada:
Use for first exit or straight
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
Lane Usage: Left
canada:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
Emergency Services
| Canada | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | Contact local police for traffic issues |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
maldives:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
maldives:
Contact local police for traffic issues
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
maldives:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; fines start from MVR 750 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Fines for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within a specified time |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
maldives:
Varies; fines start from MVR 750
Common Fines: Alcohol
canada:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
maldives:
Severe penalties including license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
maldives:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
maldives:
Fines for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
maldives:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
maldives:
Possible for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
maldives:
Varies; typically within a specified time