Driving in Estonia vs. Qatar: Key Differences Explained
Discover the distinct driving practices of Estonia and Qatar in our comprehensive comparison. Key takeaways reveal notable contrasts in speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol regulations, with Estonia advocating for lower limits and specific lane rules, while Qatar emphasizes stricter alcohol policies. Enhance your road safety knowledge before embarking on your journey abroad!
Lanes
| Estonia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
qatar:
Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
qatar:
Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
qatar:
Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
qatar:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
qatar:
Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
qatar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
qatar:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 120 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
qatar:
60-80 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
qatar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
qatar:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
qatar:
100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
qatar:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
qatar:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
qatar:
80 km/h
Signals
| Estonia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Qatar |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
qatar:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
qatar:
Not used in Qatar
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
qatar:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Estonia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
qatar:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
qatar:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Estonia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
qatar:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory
Alcohol
| Estonia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial; penalties are severe |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
qatar:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
qatar:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
qatar:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
qatar:
Can be substantial; penalties are severe
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 999 or local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or contact private services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
estonia:
112
qatar:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
qatar:
999 or local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
qatar:
Check with your insurance provider or contact private services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; can be substantial, point system applies |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | Minimum 500 QR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Minimum 500 QR, point system applies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, or online payment options |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
qatar:
Varies; can be substantial, point system applies
Common Fines: Alcohol
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
qatar:
Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR, point system applies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
qatar:
Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
qatar:
Yes, or online payment options
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
qatar:
Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties