Driving in Georgia vs. United Kingdom: Key Differences
Discover the essential driving contrasts between Georgia and the United Kingdom to ensure a secure journey abroad. Key distinctions include driving on the right versus the left, varying speed limits, and unique road etiquette. Understanding these variations will help you navigate safely and confidently in both countries.
Lanes
| Georgia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid White Line | No crossing or lane changes allowed. | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. |
| Markings: Double Solid White Line | No crossing in either direction. | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Near schools |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
georgia:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
georgia:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
georgia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
georgia:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
georgia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
georgia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
georgia:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
georgia:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
georgia:
Yes
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
united kingdom:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Georgia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-40 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-120 km/h | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 60 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
georgia:
30-50 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
georgia:
20-40 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
80-100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
georgia:
80-100 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
110-120 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
georgia:
100-110 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
90-100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
georgia:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
georgia:
Yes
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Georgia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Georgian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
georgia:
Not used
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
georgia:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
georgia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Georgia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not permitted in the UK |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Left turns permitted; use caution |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
georgia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
georgia:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Georgia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required; proof may be required | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Not displayed; records are electronic |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
georgia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
georgia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
georgia:
Recommended
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Georgia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
georgia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Georgia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
georgia:
0.03%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
georgia:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
georgia:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
georgia:
Varies; can be substantial
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
| Georgia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit |
Signaling: Entering
georgia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
georgia:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Georgia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
georgia:
112
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
georgia:
112
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
georgia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
georgia:
Recommended
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Georgia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 50 GEL | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 10 GEL | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 200 GEL | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; but usually paid later | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
georgia:
50 GEL
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
georgia:
10 GEL
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
georgia:
200 GEL
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay