Driving Differences: Estonia vs. Sri Lanka Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts between Estonia and Sri Lanka's road regulations and practices. From driving sides to speed limits, this comparison reveals essential distinctions that every traveler should know. With Estonia's right-hand driving and Sri Lanka's left, understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in each country.
Lanes
| Estonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
estonia:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
estonia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 80 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 | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Estonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
sri lanka:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
estonia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Estonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Estonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit 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, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | 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
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
estonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Estonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
estonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 119 or contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
estonia:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay