Driving in Croatia vs. India: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road rules and regulations between Croatia and India. From lane usage to speed limits, these nations showcase unique approaches to motorist etiquette and safety. While Croatia drives on the right, India adheres to the left, highlighting the importance of understanding local customs for secure travel abroad.
Lanes
| Croatia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Yes, but only when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some metropolitan areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
croatia:
Right
india:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
croatia:
Yes
india:
No
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
india:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
croatia:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
croatia:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
croatia:
N/A
india:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities and highways |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
croatia:
50 km/h
india:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
india:
60-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
india:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
india:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
croatia:
Yes
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
india:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Croatia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in India |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common due to varied vehicle conditions |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Croatian; symbols are standard | English and local languages; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
india:
Not used in India
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
india:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
croatia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
croatia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
india:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Croatia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
croatia:
Not allowed
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
Left Turn: General
croatia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Croatia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | PUC sticker displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to other countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass |
Use Of Horn: Limited
croatia:
Only in emergency situations
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
croatia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
Pedestrians Priority
croatia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
Alcohol
| Croatia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies by state; fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
croatia:
0.05%
india:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
Enforcement: Fines
croatia:
Can be substantial
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
croatia:
Can result in license suspension
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Croatia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if turning upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
croatia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
croatia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Croatia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay