Driving Differences: Canada vs. Pakistan Explained
When it comes to navigating the roads, Canada and Pakistan present intriguing contrasts. From driving sides and lane usage to speed limits and alcohol regulations, each country has unique road customs that impact safety. Understanding these distinctions is essential for travelers aiming to stay secure while exploring new territories.
Lanes
| Canada | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Dividing line for different directions; overtaking not allowed. |
| 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 Left | Yes | Prohibited |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Yes, allowed on open roads. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in major cities |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily in some urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | Bicycle symbols on road. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
canada:
Right
pakistan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
pakistan:
Dividing line for different directions; overtaking not allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
pakistan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
canada:
Yes
pakistan:
Prohibited
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
pakistan:
Yes, allowed on open roads.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
pakistan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
pakistan:
Yes, in major cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
pakistan:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
pakistan:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
pakistan:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
pakistan:
Primarily in some urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
pakistan:
Bicycle symbols on road.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
pakistan:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
pakistan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
pakistan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
pakistan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | 80-100 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; fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
pakistan:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
pakistan:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
pakistan:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
pakistan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
pakistan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
pakistan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
pakistan:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
pakistan:
Yes; fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Canada | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used in some rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | English and Urdu; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Standard warning signs used |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
pakistan:
Not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
canada:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
pakistan:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
Hand Signals: Common Usage
canada:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
pakistan:
Used in some rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
pakistan:
English and Urdu; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
pakistan:
Standard warning signs used
Turns
| Canada | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Prohibited unless a sign explicitly allows |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
pakistan:
Prohibited unless a sign explicitly allows
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
pakistan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Canada | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Usually not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
pakistan:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
pakistan:
Usually not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
pakistan:
Not mandatory but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
pakistan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
canada:
Only in emergency situations
pakistan:
Commonly used in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
canada:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
pakistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
pakistan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Canada | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in fines and legal action |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
pakistan:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
pakistan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
pakistan:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
pakistan:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
pakistan:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
canada:
Can result in license suspension
pakistan:
Can result in fines and legal action
Emergency Services
| Canada | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 115 (Rescue 1122 for paramedics) |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 15 for assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider or AA Pakistan |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
pakistan:
115 (Rescue 1122 for paramedics)
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
pakistan:
15 for assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
pakistan:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Pakistan
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
pakistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
pakistan:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; possible impoundment of vehicle |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Strict penalties, including imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | Fine if not worn where mandatory |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Fines and possible license points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes; fines can be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
pakistan:
Varies; possible impoundment of vehicle
Common Fines: Alcohol
canada:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
pakistan:
Strict penalties, including imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
pakistan:
Fine if not worn where mandatory
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
pakistan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
pakistan:
Fines and possible license points
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
pakistan:
Yes; fines can be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
pakistan:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay