Driving in Cyprus vs. Slovakia: Key Differences Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. This comparison between Cyprus and Slovakia reveals significant contrasts, such as driving on opposite sides and distinct speed limits. With varied traffic protocols and documentation requirements, drivers must stay informed to navigate these differences effectively.
Lanes
| Cyprus | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 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 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. |
| 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
slovakia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
slovakia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
slovakia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
cyprus:
Prohibited.
slovakia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
slovakia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Limited
slovakia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
slovakia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
slovakia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
slovakia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cyprus:
N/A
slovakia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cyprus:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cyprus | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 130 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. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cyprus:
50 km/h
slovakia:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
80 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
80 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
100 km/h
slovakia:
130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
100 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cyprus:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Signals
| Cyprus | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cyprus | Not used in Slovakia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Slovak; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
slovakia:
Not used in Slovakia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
slovakia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
slovakia:
Slovak; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
slovakia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Cyprus | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
slovakia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Cyprus | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit required along with local license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory and regular inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
slovakia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cyprus:
International Driving Permit recommended
slovakia:
International Driving Permit required along with local license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
slovakia:
Mandatory and regular inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
slovakia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
slovakia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cyprus | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
slovakia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cyprus | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used routinely | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and strict | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cyprus:
0.05%
slovakia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cyprus:
0.02%
slovakia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cyprus:
0.00%; zero tolerance
slovakia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
slovakia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
slovakia:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cyprus | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
slovakia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Cyprus | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 158 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
cyprus:
112
slovakia:
158
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cyprus:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
slovakia:
Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
slovakia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
slovakia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cyprus | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Strict enforcement | €50 to €150, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Strict enforcement, fines apply | €100 to €200, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines, points on license | €100 to €250, points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
slovakia:
Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
slovakia:
€50 to €150, points in some regions
Common Fines: Phone Use
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
slovakia:
€100 to €200, points in some regions
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
slovakia:
€100 to €250, points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
slovakia:
Common
Payment: Deadline
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
slovakia:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay