Driving in India vs Saudi Arabia: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of India and Saudi Arabia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. From varying lane usages to contrasting speed limits, understanding these disparities is vital for ensuring a safe journey. This comparison highlights essential driving nuances to promote safety while abroad.
Lanes
| India | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
india:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
india:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| India | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
india:
30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
saudi arabia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| India | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may 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 | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
saudi arabia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
saudi arabia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| India | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Not allowed |
| 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 unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
saudi arabia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| India | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| India | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
saudi arabia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
india:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Roundabouts
| India | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
saudi arabia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
saudi arabia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 993 |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| India | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay