Driving Differences: India vs Sri Lanka Explained
Discover the unique road regulations and practices in India and Sri Lanka to ensure safe travels. This comparison uncovers essential distinctions such as lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol thresholds. Understanding these variations can significantly enhance your driving experience and promote safety while navigating the diverse roads of both countries.
Lanes
| India | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Allowed when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| India | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 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 | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
sri lanka:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| India | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| 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 | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| India | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
sri lanka:
Not allowed
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
sri lanka:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| India | 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 required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| India | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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 left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
sri lanka:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
sri lanka:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| 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%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
sri lanka:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| India | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| India | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay