Driving in Canada vs. Serbia: Key Safety Differences
Embarking on a journey through Canada and Serbia? Understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe travel experience. From lane markings to speed limits, significant contrasts exist, such as stricter alcohol limits in Serbia and varied enforcement methods. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge before hitting the road!
Lanes
| Canada | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead 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'; 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.
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
serbia:
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.
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
serbia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
serbia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
serbia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Canada | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in Serbia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Canada | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Canada | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
serbia:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Alcohol
| Canada | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
serbia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Canada | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
canada:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay