Driving in Greece vs. Israel: Key Safety Tips
When exploring the roads of Greece and Israel, understanding their unique driving regulations and practices is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include overtaking rules, speed limits, and traffic signal usage, which can significantly impact your experience. Familiarizing yourself with these driving nuances will help ensure a secure and enjoyable adventure in both countries.
Lanes
| Greece | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
greece:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
israel:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Greece | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | Yes |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
90 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
israel:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
israel:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
israel:
Yes
Signals
| Greece | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Used before green light. |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
greece:
Not used in Greece
israel:
Used before green light.
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Greece | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
greece:
Not allowed
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| Greece | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
greece:
International Driving Permit required
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
israel:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Greece | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Greece | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
israel:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Greece | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | Check local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
greece:
112
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €350, points on license | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €350, points on license | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
greece:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay