Driving in Greece vs. Hungary: Key Safety Differences
Explore the driving landscape between Greece and Hungary, where crucial distinctions can impact your journey. Key differences include speed limits, lane markings, and road etiquette, emphasizing the need for vigilance while navigating abroad. Understanding these variations ensures a safer and more informed travel experience in both picturesque nations.
Lanes
| Greece | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used for separating traffic in opposite directions. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed except in special cases. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Rare |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
greece:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
hungary:
Used for separating traffic in opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Right
greece:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
hungary:
Not allowed except in special cases.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
greece:
List length: 5
hungary:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
greece:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
hungary:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
greece:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
hungary:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
hungary:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
hungary:
Rare
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
hungary:
Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs.
Speeds Limits
| Greece | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | Yes; issued by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
greece:
30 km/h
hungary:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
greece:
80 km/h
hungary:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
hungary:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
greece:
100 km/h
hungary:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
hungary:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
hungary:
Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
hungary:
Yes; issued by traffic police
Signals
| Greece | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Prepares traffic for a green signal. |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply. |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Hungarian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
greece:
Not used in Greece
hungary:
Prepares traffic for a green signal.
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
hungary:
Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply.
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
hungary:
Hungarian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
hungary:
Triangular with a red border
Turns
| Greece | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Restricted; only allowed at designated areas. |
Right Turn On Red
greece:
Not allowed
hungary:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
hungary:
Restricted; only allowed at designated areas.
Documentation
| Greece | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
hungary:
Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
greece:
International Driving Permit required
hungary:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
hungary:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
hungary:
Displayed on the license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
hungary:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
hungary:
Required
Road Etiquette
| Greece | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Limited use |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
hungary:
Limited use
Pedestrians Priority
greece:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
hungary:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hungary:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Greece | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Severe; license suspension is a possibility |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
greece:
0.05%
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Limits: Underage Drivers
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
hungary:
Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
hungary:
Severe; license suspension is a possibility
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
hungary:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Greece | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 107 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | 188 or specific insurance hotline |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Required |
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
hungary:
107
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
hungary:
188 or specific insurance hotline
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
hungary:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
hungary:
Required
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license | Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €350, points on license | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €350, points on license | Severe fines and potential demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Varies; often within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
hungary:
Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity
Common Fines: Alcohol
greece:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
hungary:
Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
hungary:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
hungary:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
hungary:
Severe fines and potential demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
hungary:
Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
hungary:
Varies; often within 15-30 days