Driving in Estonia vs. India: Key Safety Differences
When comparing driving regulations in Estonia and India, notable distinctions emerge that impact road safety. From differing sides of the road to varied speed limits and adherence to lane usage, understanding these aspects is crucial for travelers. This guide explores essential variations to help ensure a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
estonia:
Right
india:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
estonia:
Yes
india:
No
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
india:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some areas
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
india:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
india:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities and highways |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
india:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
india:
60-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
india:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
india:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
india:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
india:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
estonia:
Yes
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
india:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Estonia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in India |
| 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 | Estonian; symbols are standard | English and local languages; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
india:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
india:
Not used in India
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
estonia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
estonia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
india:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Estonia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated 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
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
Left Turn: General
estonia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Estonia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | 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 | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | 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 | Less frequent use compared to some countries | 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 | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass |
Use Of Horn: Limited
estonia:
Only in emergency situations
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
estonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
Pedestrians Priority
estonia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
Alcohol
| Estonia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies by state; fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
india:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
india:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
estonia:
Can result in license suspension
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Estonia | 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
estonia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
estonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Estonia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay