Driving Differences: Fiji vs. Sri Lanka Safety Tips
When exploring the nuances of road regulations, understanding the contrasts between Fiji and Sri Lanka is essential for safe travels. Notably, speed limits vary, with Sri Lanka imposing stricter restrictions. Additionally, while both nations prohibit right turns on red, Fiji lacks dedicated bus lanes, a feature present in Sri Lanka. Grasping these distinctions promotes a secure and informed journey abroad.
Lanes
| Fiji | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
fiji:
Yes
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Bus Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
fiji:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Fiji | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 kph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 kph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 kph | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 kph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
fiji:
50 kph
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
fiji:
30 kph
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
80 kph
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
fiji:
70 kph
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
60 kph
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
100 kph
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
fiji:
90 kph
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
80 kph
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Speed Units
fiji:
kph
sri lanka:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Fiji | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Fiji | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; 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: Red And Amber Together
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
fiji:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
fiji:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Fiji | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed only where indicated by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
fiji:
Not allowed.
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Fiji | 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 | Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
fiji:
Displayed on the windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Fiji | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Fiji | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, potential loss of license | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
fiji:
0.08%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
fiji:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Fiji | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
fiji:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Fiji | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
fiji:
911
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Fiji | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500 | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines can apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply; obey signals | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay