Driving in France vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique contrasts in road regulations and driving practices between France and Sri Lanka. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol tolerance and emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure experience behind the wheel. Get ready to navigate the roads abroad with enhanced awareness and confidence!
Lanes
| France | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses. |
| 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
france:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
france:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| France | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 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 | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| France | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may 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 | French; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
sri lanka:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
france:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| France | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| France | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Roundabouts
| France | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
sri lanka:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
france:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| France | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay