Driving Differences: Colombia vs Sri Lanka Explained
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Colombia and Sri Lanka, where road rules and safety protocols vary significantly. From the side of the road you navigate to speed limits and emergency contact procedures, understanding these distinctions is essential for a secure journey. Explore our comparison to ensure a safe and enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Colombia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | 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 colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
colombia:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
colombia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
colombia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
colombia:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
colombia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Colombia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; 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
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
colombia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Colombia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Colombia | 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Colombia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| 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; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
colombia:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Colombia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
colombia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Colombia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
colombia:
123
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot