Driving Differences: Croatia vs. Sri Lanka Safety Tips
When exploring the roads of Croatia and Sri Lanka, it's crucial to understand their distinct driving customs. While Croatia adheres to right-side driving and features dedicated cycle lanes, Sri Lanka drives on the left and reserves overtaking primarily for safe conditions. Familiarizing yourself with these variations will ensure a safer journey in either destination.
Lanes
| Croatia | 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 | Not commonly practiced. | 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
croatia:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
croatia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
croatia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Croatia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Croatian; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
sri lanka:
Signal when exiting
Hand Signals: Common Usage
croatia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Documentation
| Croatia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | 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
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | 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
croatia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Croatia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
Limits: General Drivers
croatia:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Roundabouts
| Croatia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
croatia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Croatia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | 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
croatia:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay