Driving Differences: Cyprus vs. Russia Explained
When planning your journey through Cyprus or Russia, understanding the unique aspects of their road regulations is essential for a secure travel experience. Notably, Cyprus drives on the left while Russia adheres to the right. From speed limits to overtaking rules, grasping these key distinctions will enhance your driving proficiency abroad.
Lanes
| Cyprus | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead 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 taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
cyprus:
Left
russia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
russia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
cyprus:
Prohibited.
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Limited
russia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cyprus:
N/A
russia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cyprus:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cyprus | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
cyprus:
50 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cyprus:
50 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
80 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
100 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
100 km/h
russia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
100 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cyprus:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cyprus:
Yes
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| Cyprus | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cyprus | Not used in Russia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Russian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
russia:
Not used in Russia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
russia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
russia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Cyprus | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
cyprus:
Not allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Cyprus | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits without additional permits | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cyprus:
International Driving Permit recommended
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
russia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cyprus | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cyprus | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.035% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used routinely | Common, especially in cities |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and strict | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cyprus:
0.05%
russia:
0.035%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cyprus:
0.02%
russia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cyprus:
0.00%; zero tolerance
russia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cyprus | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Cyprus | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
cyprus:
112
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cyprus:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
russia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cyprus | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Strict enforcement | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Strict enforcement, fines apply | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay