Driving in Cyprus vs. Israel: Key Differences Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts in motoring regulations and practices between Cyprus and Israel. From driving sides and lane usage to speed limits and signaling protocols, this comparison highlights essential guidelines that every traveler should know to navigate safely through these two vibrant nations.
Lanes
| Cyprus | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for public transport. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
cyprus:
Left
israel:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
israel:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
cyprus:
Prohibited.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Limited
israel:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cyprus:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cyprus | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cyprus:
50 km/h
israel:
30 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
100 km/h
israel:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
100 km/h
israel:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cyprus:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Cyprus | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cyprus | Used before green light. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
israel:
Used before green light.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
israel:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cyprus:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Traffic Signs: Language
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Cyprus | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cyprus:
Not allowed
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| Cyprus | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits without additional permits | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cyprus:
International Driving Permit recommended
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
israel:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cyprus | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cyprus:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cyprus | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used routinely | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and strict | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cyprus:
0.02%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cyprus:
0.00%; zero tolerance
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Roundabouts
| Cyprus | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
cyprus:
Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately
israel:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Cyprus | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Check local numbers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
cyprus:
112
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
cyprus:
112
israel:
Check local numbers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cyprus | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Strict enforcement | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Strict enforcement, fines apply | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines, points on license | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
cyprus:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay