Driving in Canada vs. South Korea: Key Differences
Embarking on a journey in Canada or South Korea? Understanding the unique road regulations in each country is vital for a secure driving experience. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol tolerance levels. Familiarize yourself with these essential variations to navigate safely and confidently on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Canada | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing 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 Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | Minimum two or more occupants |
| 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.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
south korea:
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.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
south korea:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100-110 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
south korea:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
south korea:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
south korea:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
south korea:
Yes
Signals
| Canada | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in South Korea |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Canada | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Canada | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| 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 | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
south korea:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Alcohol
| Canada | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
south korea:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
south korea:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
canada:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Canada | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
south korea:
Yes