Driving in Dominican Republic vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences
Driving in the Dominican Republic and Sri Lanka presents unique challenges and regulations. Key distinctions include driving on the right in the Dominican Republic versus the left in Sri Lanka, and differing speed limits in urban and rural areas. Understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | 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 | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | Reserved for buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
dominican republic:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
dominican republic:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
dominican republic:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No; speed checks are done by police radar | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
sri lanka:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Dominican republic | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
sri lanka:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Hand Signals: Common Usage
dominican republic:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Dominican republic | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | 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: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
sri lanka:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
dominican republic:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Dominican republic | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required and recommended as a safety measure | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
dominican republic:
911
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay