Driving in Canada vs. Norway: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Canada and Norway, drivers encounter fascinating contrasts in regulations and practices. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol restrictions and emergency contacts, understanding these distinctions is essential for safe navigation. This comparison highlights the key variations that every traveler should be aware of before hitting the streets in these two diverse nations.
Lanes
| Canada | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | Minimum two or more occupants |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-50 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: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
norway:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
norway:
Yes
Signals
| Canada | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in Norway |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
norway:
Not used in Norway
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Canada | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
norway:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Canada | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
norway:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Canada | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| 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; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Emergency Services
| Canada | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, typically required |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
canada:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
norway:
Yes, typically required