Driving in India vs. Serbia: Key Safety Differences
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. This comparison between India and Serbia reveals notable contrasts, including driving orientation, speed limits, and lane usage. While India favors left-side driving, Serbia adheres to the right, showcasing the diverse driving cultures and safety practices essential for responsible travel.
Lanes
| India | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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'; 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
serbia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
serbia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
serbia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
serbia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
serbia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| India | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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
serbia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
serbia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| India | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Serbia |
| 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 | Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
serbia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
serbia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| India | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited 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 | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
serbia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| India | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on 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
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| India | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
serbia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
serbia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
serbia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | 1987 |
| 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
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| India | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay