Driving in India vs. North Macedonia: Key Differences
When comparing the road regulations of India and North Macedonia, distinct variations emerge that can significantly impact travelers. From lane usage and speed limits to signaling practices, each nation has its unique driving culture. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure and smooth experience on foreign roads.
Lanes
| India | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| 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 with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
Driving Side
india:
Left
north macedonia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
north macedonia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
Speeds Limits
| India | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| 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
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
north macedonia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| India | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Prepare to go |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| 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 | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
india:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
india:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
india:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
north macedonia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| India | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| 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 | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
north macedonia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| India | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| India | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| 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 | Less frequent 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 |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
india:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
north macedonia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
north macedonia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
north macedonia:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
north macedonia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
north macedonia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
north macedonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| India | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay