Driving Differences: Canada vs Sri Lanka Explained
When navigating the roads of Canada and Sri Lanka, drivers encounter striking variations in traffic regulations and safety protocols. Key distinctions include driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage. This guide explores these contrasts to ensure safer journeys, whether you’re cruising through urban landscapes or rural terrains in either country.
Lanes
| Canada | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Marks the right 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 Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | N/A |
| 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. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
canada:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
canada:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80 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; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Canada | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
canada:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Canada | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Canada | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit 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 | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
sri lanka:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Cultural Norm
canada:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Canada | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Canada | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
canada:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Canada | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot