Driving Differences: Canada vs. North Macedonia
When navigating the roads of Canada and North Macedonia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experiences. From lane markings to speed limits, these countries showcase varied approaches to vehicular safety. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad, whether you're exploring urban settings or rural landscapes.
Lanes
Canada | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
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. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
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 with road signs. |
Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
north macedonia:
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.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
north macedonia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
north macedonia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
Canada | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
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 | 70 km/h |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120 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 | N/A |
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
north macedonia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
Canada | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Prepare to go |
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
canada:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
canada:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
canada:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
canada:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
Canada | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
Canada | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
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 | Annual inspection required |
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on the windshield |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
north macedonia:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
Canada | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
canada:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Alcohol
Canada | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
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 | Conducted at checkpoints |
Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
north macedonia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
Canada | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 192 |
Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Contact local service providers |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
Canada | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | 50 EUR |
Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | 40 EUR |
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | 250 EUR, points on license |
Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, often required |
Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay