Driving in Estonia vs. Greece: Key Safety Differences
Discover the essential contrasts in driving regulations between Estonia and Greece to enhance your road safety abroad. Key distinctions include speed limits, traffic signals, and alcohol limits. While Estonia applies stricter enforcement on driver behavior, Greece offers a more relaxed approach to documentation for foreign drivers. Equip yourself with this vital knowledge for a secure journey.
Lanes
| Estonia | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not applicable |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
greece:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
greece:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
greece:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
greece:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
greece:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
greece:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
greece:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Estonia | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Greece |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Greek and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
greece:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
greece:
Not used in Greece
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
estonia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Estonia | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
greece:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Estonia | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
greece:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Alcohol
| Estonia | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; police may set up roadblocks |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
greece:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
greece:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
Test Refusal
estonia:
Can result in license suspension
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 10400 for ELPA assistance |
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
greece:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | €350, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | €350, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 10 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
greece:
€350, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
greece:
€100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
greece:
€350, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay