Ghana vs Sri Lanka: Key Driving Differences Explained
When traveling abroad, understanding the driving contrasts between Ghana and Sri Lanka is crucial for ensuring road safety. From lane usage and speed limits to emergency protocols, these nations exhibit significant variations. Notably, Ghana drives on the right while Sri Lanka adheres to the left, impacting how motorists navigate their journeys.
Lanes
| Ghana | 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 | Generally not advised. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
ghana:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ghana:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
ghana:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ghana:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ghana:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| 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: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ghana:
50 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ghana:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ghana:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ghana:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Ghana | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ghana | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English | 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
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
ghana:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ghana:
Triangular with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Ghana | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Ghana | 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 | Mandatory | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ghana | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
ghana:
0.08%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ghana:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ghana:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Ghana | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
ghana:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Ghana | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | 119 or contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ghana:
191
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Moderate fines | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot