Driving in Estonia vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Estonia and Saudi Arabia. Key distinctions include the presence of dedicated bus and cycle lanes in Estonia, while Saudi Arabia emphasizes high-occupancy lanes. Additionally, speed limits, traffic signals, and alcohol regulations showcase substantial variances, underscoring the importance of understanding these driving nuances for your safety abroad.
Lanes
| Estonia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
estonia:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Estonia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
saudi arabia:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Turns
| Estonia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Estonia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
estonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Estonia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
estonia:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
estonia:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
estonia:
112
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay