Driving in Israel vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Israel and Saudi Arabia, understanding the unique rules and practices is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include overtaking protocols, speed limits, and alcohol regulations, highlighting Saudi Arabia's strict zero-tolerance stance compared to Israel's more lenient approach. Equip yourself with knowledge for a smoother experience abroad.
Lanes
| Israel | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
israel:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
israel:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
israel:
50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
israel:
30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
israel:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
israel:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Israel | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
saudi arabia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Israel | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Israel | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
israel:
Displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Israel | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
israel:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
israel:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
israel:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Israel | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | 993 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
saudi arabia:
993
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
Common Fines: Speeding
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer