Driving in Guatemala vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the roads of Guatemala and Sri Lanka, travelers encounter distinct regulations and practices that greatly influence vehicular navigation. Key differences include driving sides—right in Guatemala versus left in Sri Lanka—and varying speed limits. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience in both countries.
Lanes
| Guatemala | 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles in some areas. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Varies by location. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
guatemala:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
guatemala:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
guatemala:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
N/A
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
N/A
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
Limited
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
Varies by location.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Guatemala | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
guatemala:
Limited use
sri lanka:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Guatemala | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Guatemala | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
guatemala:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Guatemala | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies, check local signs for permission | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Guatemala | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | 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
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Guatemala | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More 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
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Guatemala | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by locality; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
guatemala:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Guatemala | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
guatemala:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Guatemala | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 119 or contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
guatemala:
122
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
guatemala:
110
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Guatemala | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; check with local authorities | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
guatemala:
Fines imposed
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
guatemala:
Fines imposed
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
guatemala:
Substantial fines
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
guatemala:
Yes, often required
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay