Driving in Egypt vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the roads of Egypt and Sri Lanka reveals intriguing contrasts in their driving regulations and practices. From differing rules on overtaking to unique speed limits, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Whether navigating bustling city streets or rural highways, knowing these distinctions enhances your road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Egypt | 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 | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
egypt:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
egypt:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
egypt:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Egypt | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some situations due to high traffic density | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
sri lanka:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
sri lanka:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
sri lanka:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
sri lanka:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Egypt | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
sri lanka:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Egypt | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
sri lanka:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Only in emergency situations |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
sri lanka:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
sri lanka:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
sri lanka:
Only in emergency situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
egypt:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Egypt | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
egypt:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 119 or contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay