Driving Differences: Greece vs Sri Lanka for Safe Travel
When exploring the roads of Greece and Sri Lanka, understanding the variations in traffic regulations is crucial for a secure journey. Notably, Greece drives on the right while Sri Lanka adheres to the left. From speed limits to lane usage, this comparison highlights essential distinctions that every traveler should consider for enhanced road safety.
Lanes
| Greece | 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 | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| 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 | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
greece:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
greece:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
greece:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
greece:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
greece:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
greece:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
greece:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
greece:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
greece:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
greece:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Greece | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
greece:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
greece:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Greece | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | 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 | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
greece:
Not used in Greece
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
greece:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Greece | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Greece | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Greece | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Greece | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
greece:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Greece | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
greece:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Greece | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | 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
greece:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €350, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €350, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay