Driving in India vs. Israel: Key Differences Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of the road rules is crucial for safe travels. This comparison between India and Israel reveals significant contrasts, such as driving on opposite sides of the road and varying speed limits. Delve into the distinctive regulations that shape the driving experience in each country for a safer journey.
Lanes
| India | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
india:
Left
israel:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
israel:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
israel:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
israel:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
israel:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| India | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
israel:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
israel:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
israel:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
israel:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
israel:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
israel:
Yes
Signals
| India | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Used before green light. |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
israel:
Used before green light.
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
israel:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| India | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
israel:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| India | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
israel:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| India | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
israel:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
israel:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
israel:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
israel:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
israel:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | Check local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| India | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, 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 | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay