Driving in El Salvador vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of El Salvador and Sri Lanka, drivers encounter notable contrasts that can impact their journey. From differing traffic regulations to unique lane usage, this comparison highlights essential variations in driving culture and safety protocols. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience behind the wheel in both nations.
Lanes
| El salvador | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
el salvador:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
el salvador:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
el salvador:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| El salvador | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| 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 | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
sri lanka:
Signal when exiting
Hand Signals: Common Usage
el salvador:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| El salvador | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
Documentation
| El salvador | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | 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
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| El salvador | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay