Driving in El Salvador vs. Turkey: Key Differences Revealed
When navigating the roads of El Salvador and Turkey, understanding their unique driving norms is essential for a safe journey. Key contrasts include speed limits, overtaking rules, and alcohol regulations. While El Salvador allows right-side overtaking, Turkey enforces stricter lane rules. Explore these distinctions to ensure your travel experience is both safe and enjoyable.
Lanes
| El salvador | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| 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. |
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
turkey:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
el salvador:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
turkey:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
turkey:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
el salvador:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
turkey:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| El salvador | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
turkey:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
el salvador:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| El salvador | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| El salvador | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
turkey:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
turkey:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
turkey:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
el salvador:
Can result in license suspension
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges