Driving in El Salvador vs. India: Key Differences Revealed
When navigating the roads of El Salvador and India, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their journey. Key distinctions include driving on the right in El Salvador compared to the left in India, as well as varying speed limits and lane usage rules. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience abroad.
Lanes
| El salvador | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, but only when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some metropolitan areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
Driving Side
el salvador:
Right
india:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
el salvador:
Yes
india:
No
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
india:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some areas
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes, in major cities and highways |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
india:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
india:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
india:
60-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
india:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
india:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| El salvador | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in India |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common due to varied vehicle conditions |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and local languages; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
india:
Not used in India
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
india:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
el salvador:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
el salvador:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
india:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| El salvador | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
Left Turn: General
el salvador:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
Documentation
| El salvador | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | PUC sticker displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
india:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
india:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Frequent use compared to other countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass |
Use Of Horn: Limited
el salvador:
Only in emergency situations
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
Pedestrians Priority
el salvador:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
Alcohol
| El salvador | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Varies by state; fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
india:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
india:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
el salvador:
Can result in license suspension
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| El salvador | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if turning upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
el salvador:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| El salvador | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
india:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay